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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!

Those do sound like pin feathers! My fingernails are pretty pathetic, but I use what I have, putting thumb and index or long fingers together around the tip of the pin and squeezing gently to break it along the sheath. The bird will be able to shake or rub get it off once you've broken into it. And the bird will tell you when you're doing it wrong, so as long as Bailey is holding still for you, never fear.

The advice I read usually says to roll the sheath but that doesn't work for me Pinching does! May it work for you too. Offering more frequent showers or baths helps too to loosen the sheaths.

Paca

Yeah your bird will def. let you know if they want you to touch them or not. Sometimes Lola's arent ready to be touch and can be sensitive. I've touched a few that aren't read and boy did I get a scream! lol I find her tail feathers are sensitive.

But usually, you can tell when they're ready to go. Happy preening!

I usually bathe my Cookie and while she's wet sitting in lap on the towel,groom her pin feathers. She sits there and puffs up while I do them. I think pinching them and twisting the end works for me. By the way the really hard ones I don't bother to touch. I know better than that!!

that's when i noticed bailey's pin feather. i had just given him a shower and he was sitting in my lap on a towel and the feather just kinda stuck right out. thanks for all your replies...someone else sent me this link which i found very helpful: http://www.tailfeathersnetwork.com/b...odfeathers.php

Hey Susan the link didn't work

Also, if a pin feather is too sensitive or not ready to be opened up Baily might still like it if you gently rub the spot where the feather is meets the body. Sparky and Mika both seem to get some relief from this.

Michelle&Lola wrote:Yeah your bird will def. let you know if they want you to touch them or not. Sometimes Lola's arent ready to be touch and can be sensitive. I've touched a few that aren't read and boy did I get a scream!

Jujube does the same if the pin feathers aren't ready..she screams and turns her head trying to nip my fingers.. It's so cute to see her closes her eyes enjoy the rubbing and scratching.