opinions on blood feather

[Savery]

Got a light mist when my sun conure flew past me earlier.. looked at his wing and he had a bleeding primary. It's not broken, but is bleeding very lightly from the end of the sheath, but only if it's messed with. Not sure if he overpreened it or whacked it on something. I have no problems with pulling it (been there, done that) but just curious what everyone else thinks. All the bird literature I have (for both falconiformes and psittacines) only references complete breaks.

To pull or not to pull?

My vote is to put him to bed and see how it is in the morning.

[expressmailtome]

First, I have no experience with broken blood feathers. If it is still bleeding you could apply something like Kwik Stop to it. Since it is so late here on the East Coast you could let him be for the night and then call your vet in the morning. See if they will just give you an answerover the phone. Sorry if this is not that helpful.

Matt

[Savery]

Since someone couldn't be still, it kept bleeding, so I decided to pull it. Pulling them is rather easy, although unfun for both bird and designated feather puller. A clean jerk with a hemostat and it's all over in a second.

Still curious as to what everyone else does with a lightly bleeding feather, tho.

[expressmailtome]

Well at least u can sleep tonight knowing that your baby is going to be fine tonight.

Matt

[Lori~D]

I take no chances and pull them. Like you said. "someone couldn't sit still" lol. Also like you said the bleeding was coming out the sheth and what I find is usually happening is its actually bleeding down in lower and the sheth is acting like a straw so putting quick stop on it doesnt always work. Pull it like a grey hair - it WILL grow back:) as you did.

[kellywess]

If the shaft is cracked, I pull it.

[Valo's Moirana]

depends - on many factors, such as
*) how is the shaft cracked (along the feather, or perpendicular to the main axis) as it affects the stability of the shaft significantly
*) where the feather is - first primary is always bad, if it's further down the surrounding feathers might protect it
*) can i stop the bleeding quickly, if it takes forever, it's a pull

i'd have pulled that one though

[Ashling]

In the past, I've packed it with flower and bandaged it up, for lightly bleeding ones. It stops in a few hours (enough time for the bandage to actually stay on)