Weird stuff on Mango's head :S

[Mango_SunConure]

Hey, I need some help with my Sun Conure, Mango. He has these things on the top of his head right above his beak. I'll try to describe it...It looks like those things at the end of a feather (Its like that tube thing at the bottom of a feather that they used to use to write with), but that part is still on his head with no feather. I'll try to get a pic if you still don't understand.

[Monica]

Sounds like pin feathers to me! Just new feathers growing in! Be sure to give Mango bathes to soften up the sheath, and if he'll allow you, you can gently pinch the end of the shaft when the feather starts growing out.

[4HAND]

Those sound like new feathers comming in.In time he should rub off the casings and new feathers are rolled up inside.He'd break them open himself,but probably can't reach them.Baths help,and if he'll allow it,you can "preen" them open with your fingernails.Just make sure they are not red in the center as these are blood feathers that are still developing.
Tena

[ROYJOY]

yes, but dont force them off, they could be too new. they will loosen up in time, and bathing.

[saucie]

Will pin casings come off by themselves, even if he can't reach them?

[Mango_SunConure]

Originally Posted by 4HAND

Those sound like new feathers comming in.In time he should rub off the casings and new feathers are rolled up inside.He'd break them open himself,but probably can't reach them.Baths help,and if he'll allow it,you can "preen" them open with your fingernails.Just make sure they are not red in the center as these are blood feathers that are still developing.
Tena

I have no fingernails (I bite them too much. :p). Thanks for all the help, though. I was kinda worried about it at first. I'll do everything you guys suggested. That's another problem with Mango, though. He HATES taking baths for some reason. What can I do about that?

[Monica]

Mist him? Give him a shallow bowl of cold water? Ice water? Water with toys? With the vacuum running? In the sink? In the shower? Outside in a cage using mist/shower setting on a hose nozzle?

Figure out how he likes his baths best... if he doesn't show a preference just mist him.

If the pin feathers are soft enough you don't really need fingernails... but they can help!


Saucie, the casing will come off on it's own so long as the bird can scratch itself.... with foot or otherwise... if they scratch they can get rid of the casing on their own.... I've got a tiel that whenever she molts her crest feathers, they remain mostly encased cause she doesn't scratch her head! And she doesn't like scritches, either! So she ends up with a spiked head!

[nels2985]

My sun conure, Huey, doesn't like taking baths on his own, in the sink or anything, but I learned that he LOVES the mist in the shower...not the direct spray but the mist that comes off of it...does that make sense? What I usually do is sit on the floor of my shower (I just have a stall shower, not a tub) and he sits on my hand or arm and I hold him in the mist (there seems to be more mist the farther away from the showerhead you get). He's so funny! He holds his wings out, opens his beak part way and closes his eyes...the look on his face is pure bliss! I'm going to try and attach a pic so you can see what I mean. Good luck and let me know how it goes!!