Blood feathers

[magicalem]

PLEASE can someone help me out - where are the blood feathers usually placed on a grey? I have a feather on my boy that seems like it is ingrown - the bit that looks like the root - plastic looking bit is hard & thicker than on the other and looks liek going back into his head... can I pull this out? Have tried a litle but he proper flinches... is this a blood feather do u know..also what is the best way to sstock bleeding of a blood feather, justin case this happens... I have heard to pull out straight away - but how do u stop actual bleeding....?

 

Regards

Emma

[lovemyGreys]

When a parrot's feathers are growing in, they are covered in a waxy-looking sheath that is made of keratin. The stuff are fingernails are made of.A mature feather has no nerve or blood supply contained inside.When a new feather is growing in, there IS a blood supply inside the feather. The feather that is still growing is called a "blood feather" because of the fact that is has a blood supply!

Please DO NOT pull at the sheath ot attempt to pull it out.

 

If your bird knocks a blood feather & it bleeds you will need some styptic powder, if you havent got this to hand then cornflour or starch will work.Apply to the bleeding & hopefully tthis will help to cause the blood to clot and stop flowing. In extreme cases the feather will need removing.

[mas]

Hi Emma,

If you read my past posts you'll learn lots about blood feathers I'm sure - they are the topic of my nightmares!! :dry:

If a blood feather bleeds, its best to take your bird to the vet to have it removed, because often the bleeding will re-start, or the other option is to pack it with flour/corn starch.

I'm not keen to use styptic powder, because I've been informed here on the forum that it is toxic if it goes into the bloodstream, or if ingested - I know for sure it's toxic for humans, so I'm sure it's toxic for birds...

Zahzu had an ingrown feather a couple of weeks ago, and the vet had to cut the skin to remove it, as it was bleeding and causing the poor baba pain.

Hope this helps...

-Sameera

[magicalem]

do all ingrown feathers have to be removed or can they be left.... I am unsure whether to take him to the vets...... any advice....x

[magicalem]

lovemyGreys wrote:

When a parrot's feathers are growing in, they are covered in a waxy-looking sheath that is made of keratin. The stuff are fingernails are made of.A mature feather has no nerve or blood supply contained inside.When a new feather is growing in, there IS a blood supply inside the feather. The feather that is still growing is called a "blood feather" because of the fact that is has a blood supply!

Please DO NOT pull at the sheath ot attempt to pull it out.

 

If your bird knocks a blood feather & it bleeds you will need some styptic powder, if you havent got this to hand then cornflour or starch will work.Apply to the bleeding & hopefully tthis will help to cause the blood to clot and stop flowing. In extreme cases the feather will need removing.

 

how do i know if a new feather r mature feather......???

 

xxx

[mas]

Take a look at this website:

http://images.google.co.za/imgres?imgurl=http://qp-society.com/qpserc/ercimages/bloodfeather2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://qp-society.com/qpserc/bloodfeathers.html&h=178&w=235&sz=10&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=vAXlhyxjGmZuhM:&tbnh=83&tbnw=109&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmature%2Bfeather%2Bblood%2Bfeather%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

 

It might not be the best sight, i just did a quick google image search and found it, but it should explain and show u everything you need to know.

 

-Sameera

[lovemyGreys]

Great link Sameera Thanks for posting.