Oops!!

I have got a bum knee at the moment and that has caused a problem for my daughters cockatiel Pearl. Pearl was sitting on the back of the couch and I was moving to sit down on the couch when my knee gave out and I basically flopped into the couch. Unfortunately in so doing I simultaneously trapped Pearl's tailfeathers and mildly head butt her with the back of my head. Naturally she got startled and flew away vigorously, leaving 12 tailfeathers behind her.

She is fine, I mostly just startled her. The poor thing though is having some issues flying. Both my daughers 'tiels are fully flighted and are used to flying to where ever they want to, although they usually stay around the rest of the family members, so this is mildly distressing to Pearl.

With all that said I just wanted to confirm with you all that her tail feathers WILL grow back, and ask how long that process should take.

On a semi-unrelated note Pearl was back sitting on my knee and ducking her head down for scritching on her neck within 5 minutes of losing the feathers so I really doubt she has been traumatized. This bird is the sweetest most affectionate bird, to people, Ive ever met. To other birds she is a little more agrerssive to say the least. So that makes it a little interesting for Guido ( my Jenday ) and Sunny ( my daughters other 'tiel)

Any information that anyone can provide is greatly appreciated

Awww...I'd say no worries, the tail feathers will grow back.

Our Cockatiel, Chicken Little...well, when we very first got him, my hubby was putting him in his new cage. I said...do you want a towel to get him out of the box and into the cage with? He say's...no he'll be fine...yea...Chicken clamped down on his knuckle and tore out a chunk of flesh! In hubbys reaction to keep from dropping the flapping trying to get away tiel...Chicken just "released" his tail feathers and left hubby holding about 6 of them! They grew back within a couple months, then one afternoon, his cage door hadn't been properly latched and fell open, he came out of his cage and THANK GOODNESS I was home and heard the commotion, because our dog was on him like a fly to honey...all she got was a mouth full of tail feathers and spanking.

Within a month or so his tail feathers grew back in.

I also rescued a feral pigeon who was missing all but 2 of her tail feathers, within 30 days they are all grown in and you'd never know they were ever missing.

So the tiel may look a bit awkward for the time being, but once the new feathers start come in, it's quite amazing how fast they actually grow. About a week from the pin feather breaking through, to fully done.

Toni

Like it was mentioned, they will grow back just fine! I got a chuckle of you guy's stories...I couldn't help myself as those same stories happen to me before...lol....

When I was little something similar happened with one of my cockatiels and he had no more tail! Before, they'd been all uneven and raggedy looking, but after they grew in, they were perfect for the rest of his life! LOL

Thanks all! I feel relieved now and will make sure I pass the information along to my daughter.