something's not normal

[katrinks]

I have a Budgie, named Buddie, and I guess he's about 5 years old. Anyway, I was playing with him the other day, talking to him as he walked up and down my arms singing, and I noticed that what should be a feather in his tail, didn't look like a feather. It looked like the round, plasticky stuff the fuzzy part of the feather grows out of, except it was just that, and it's red and black and it looks really funny. I've never seen this before, with him, or any of my other previous budgies. Can somebody tell me what it is and if I shuold be worrying?

[HEATHEsaurusREX]

it sounds like a blood feather which is what a feather is before it starts to sprout fuzz and for a hile during, pretty much until the feather is formed. It's red a black because you're seeing the blood source into the feather that is helping it grow. BE VERY CAREFUL with Buddy and his tail for a while. If he breaks it, which is common, you'll have to take him to the vet as I'm assuming you've never pulled a blood feather before and i's best to have the Vet do it if you have no experience. However in most cases they do need to be pulled or the bird will bleed to death since budgies have such a very small blood supply

[isoscelestri]

You should get some styptic powder in case it does bleed, it will help stop bleeding on something like a blood feather (the feather will still have to be pulled). It's good to have around for nail clipping or filing since that can cause some bleeding too.

[HEATHEsaurusREX]

i actually usually just use flour or corn starch. they'll stop the bleeding and you don't have to worry about the quik stop not working or whatever. I remember hearing something negative about it once... can't remember what... but it was there lol

[isoscelestri]

I haven't heard that cornstarch was good for bleeding yet, but I do know it's good for cleaning blood out of feathers. I worked for an ornithologist for a couple of years, and we used it all the time.

[HEATHEsaurusREX]

yep cornstarch and flour are both good natural styptics that most people have on hand at all times

[DarwinTheSun]

The problem with styptic powder is that it will give a chemical burn to the skin if it gets on it. Ouch!

[katrinks]

Actually, i was looking at it again today, and it looks more like a stick now than anything, and it looks dry :S

[4HAND]

If that were my bird,I would hold him firmly [but still allowing him to breathe]and have someone pull the feather out swiftly.It sounds like,for whatever reason the feather is a bloodfeather that has not developed properly.A healthy bloodfeather should not look dry or black in any way[unless the feather inside was black and nearly ready to immerge].It would look pink in the shaft.Take this time to inspect the skin for abnormalities.Budgies are prone to fatty tumors.One of these may affect feather developement.If you are squeamish,have a vet do it.

Tena

[huntress]

Oh geesh - dont pull it out until you show us a pic. Its probably just a black tail feather growing out and hasnt opened yet. Roll the tip of it between your fingernails first and see how the waxy "straw" breaks away to reveal the feather underneath. The pink part is just the blood supply to the feather until it grows to its entirety dont pinch that area as it is sensitive.
An immature feather is called a blood feather by bird ppl because it still contains blood and if it is broken accidentally ,yes, a bird can bleed to death. Pulling a blood feather is not difficult and can be done easily at home if needed. Most small birds cannot wait for a trip to the vet for this. A small bird can be held in a wash cloth and the feather must be pulled straight out with one quick motion (pull straight) and use a pair of small pliers to get a solid firm hold on the feather. Like pulling off a bandaid quick of your hair? Tail feathers are easy because you dont have to worry about displacing a wing in the process. Wing feathers are harder because you must isolate the bleeding feather and then stabilize the wing (i keep it folded against the body) before yanking out the feather. This should stop any bleeding and styptic shouldnt be needed.
I prefer to tell you to get Quick stop or blood stop powder for pets. It wont burn the skin and it ALWAYS works if used as the directions say. Some of it actually has benzocain in it for pain. The Gel product is crappy - dont buy it.