pin feathers?

[sweetpeaches]

hi,

i need some advice regarding bailey's(caique) pin feathers? at least i think it's a pin feather? today after his shower i was rubbing the back of his head and noticed a hard shaft about an inch long...(pin feather?) as i touched it bailey held real still as if he was getting some relief? i didn't know if i should squeeze it or leave it alone.
i'm all new to this pin feather-blood feather stuff and don't want to hurt him. he acted like he wanted me to take it off. what should i do? how do i know if i should loosen or roll it between my fingers? how can i tell if it's a blood feather and should be left alone? btw...peaches (lovie) who just recently now lets me give her scritches behind her neck has lots of littl hard shafts...should i be "preening" those too? i feel like such a new mom when it comes to stuff like this....thanks for your help!

[birdlady49]

If it's a blood feather, you would see red in the shaft closer to the body. However, as the feather grows, the blood recedes back into the body.

If it's clear, it is okay to rub it gently, back and forth in your thumb and second finger or do normal "scritching." The shaft will break away in tiny pieces and the rest of the feather will emerge. All birds love the help, especially if it's difficult to reach. That's why you'll often see pairs preening each other. Since your bird doesn't have another feathered companion to help with preening, he relies on you to a degree.

It's not a big deal if you don't help either.

It can be compared somewhat to a baby's new tooth coming in.

[swanwillow]

I use my finger nails to help get the white stuff off. It just comes right off, and you can tell they just LOVE it.

[Tishrei]

Originally Posted by swanwillow

I use my finger nails to help get the white stuff off. It just comes right off, and you can tell they just LOVE it.

I do too -- Ducky just eats it up and if I stop, he places his head under my hand so I can continue. He also makes these sounds that shows he's loving it.

[sweetpeaches]

thanks for all your replies...someone else sent me this link which i found very helpful: http://www.tailfeathersnetwork.com/b...odfeathers.php

[birdlady49]

Your link didn't work, so I typed in Tailfeathers -- Bird Information, Help, and More. It looks like an interesting board (but not as interesting as this one)!

[Monica]

I think this is the correct link....

Blood Feathers

[sweetpeaches]

yes, this is a great board! one of my favorites. lots of answers right away from lots of people!

[Busguy]

I just wanted to add that my GC also loves it when I help with pin feathers that she cant reach but if I touch one that isnt ready, she always lets me know that it is "off limits".

Since Pepper takes care of most of the ones she can't reach (and visa-versa) it is pretty rare these days that I find one though... (I still miss the days of her "needing" my help with them)

[Tishrei]

Originally Posted by Busguy

but if I touch one that isnt ready, she always lets me know that it is "off limits".

that's interesting. When I do Ducky's feathers and he turns around nippy, I always thought it was because I was doing it too hard and hurt him. I had no idea that the feather wasn't ready yet. What I've done is return to that feather but more gently. I will start leaving them alone if he whips his head around and does a light nip.