Pinfeathers and Molting

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Pinfeathers and Molting
Topic Started: Sep 25 2009, 08:41 PM (126 Views)
ChibiSilverWings	Sep 25 2009, 08:41 PM Post #1
Newbie Posts: 43 Group: Full Members Member #3,103 Joined: June 29, 2009 How many Parrotlets do you have One What types Pacific What colours Green Other Birds ? None I live in Michigan My name is Chelsea	My little Abby is just hitting about 4 and a half month and thus is going through her first molt. She's been mostly sweet and patient but since I only have one bird, I'm in need of some advice on how to get those pesky pinfeather casings off her head and neck. We've had suggestions of rolling them in our fingers and twice this has resulted in us accidentally pulling out the feather! Poor baby... I want to take good care of her grooming since she doesn't have a mate to help her, but I'm not equipped with a beak :lol: Please offer any and all suggestions of how to keep our little Abby prim and pretty. Thanks!



kevinp	Sep 25 2009, 09:14 PM Post #2
Administrator Posts: 6,047 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: October 7, 2006 How many Parrotlets do you have I have one Parrotlet What types Celestials What colours One green Other Birds ? Budgeries four off I live in a mess of my own making !!! My name is I'll give you a clue	You do have to be careful with pin feathers as they are growing feathers and have blood flow through them. This is not a problem with the smaller ones if they break as they stop bleeding pretty quick, but a wing feather can be a different thing altogether and if bleeding it will either have to be pulled or blocked up, pulling a feather on such a small bird would be a problem so most would use cornflower or some thing like that and dip he feather into this , I know this is not what you were asking but its better to know these things, when Squeak has pins I tend to mist him which he kinda likes he would rather get the water from the bars of the cage after I have finished spraying him, when wet the sleeves of keratin which cover the new feather become soft and flake away easily. If this doesn't do the job you will normally find that they will find a toy or the bars of the cage to rub their heads on. Pins can be very painful if not treated with care, if he lets you rub his head I would be tempted just to rub in the direction that they feather is laid or it will cause him pain and my guess is that you will get bitten :) you could mist him them rub his head but do be careful as it will be another 4 - 5 months before they grow again. Kev



ChibiSilverWings	Sep 25 2009, 09:23 PM Post #3
Newbie Posts: 43 Group: Full Members Member #3,103 Joined: June 29, 2009 How many Parrotlets do you have One What types Pacific What colours Green Other Birds ? None I live in Michigan My name is Chelsea	I mist her often, but even so, I worry she can't get at some of them by herself, seeing as she has so many there.



LauraR	Sep 25 2009, 11:21 PM Post #4
Staff Member Posts: 4,891 Group: Staff Member #78 Joined: April 7, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 1 What types Pacific What colours Blue Pied Other Birds ? 2 Conures I live in California, USA	Spike wants me to preen him everyday, even if he doesn't have pins. He goes to my mouse when he's out with me at the computer and fluffs his head up and lays it down by my hand :) That's a not so subtle hint!! I usually wait until the pins are really white and have been there a few days. I don't go after the ones that are short or it will be painful and he'll squeal and run away. I take the very tip of the pin and crush it with my thumbnail and finger. I don't try to pull the whole thing off -- once you break it up it will fall off anyway. After you do this a while, you get the feel of it and know which ones to avoid. Of course, not being a bird, I usually get a sore one, but I never pull them so there's no danger of feathers being pulled out. :) I also think the rolling motion you talked about is used on bigger birds with big pins. Not much to roll on a parrotlet pin! :lol:



ChibiSilverWings	Sep 26 2009, 02:06 AM Post #5
Newbie Posts: 43 Group: Full Members Member #3,103 Joined: June 29, 2009 How many Parrotlets do you have One What types Pacific What colours Green Other Birds ? None I live in Michigan My name is Chelsea	Dawww Spike sounds like quite a cutie! Abby is already sweet, but I hope someday she'll be that kind to me haha but I'll love her even if she's a nippy butt. I spoil that little birdy rotten smug



bonnie	Sep 28 2009, 02:47 PM Post #6
Co Admin Posts: 14,044 Group: Co Admin Member #73 Joined: March 10, 2007 How many Parrotlets do you have 0 Other Birds ? YNA GCC. Cockatiel I live in Pennsylvania My name is Bonnie	I always mist my birds twice a day when they go through there molts, it does help a bit.



birdgirl089	Oct 1 2009, 02:24 AM Post #7
Member Posts: 227 Group: Full Members Member #3,001 Joined: February 4, 2009 How many Parrotlets do you have 1 What types Pacific What colours Green Other Birds ? Kakariki I live in Canada My name is Traci	Also as she gets older and you get more experience grooming her as well as the trust between you builds it will be a lot easier for you to scratch them away.



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