Cockatiel Crown growing in strange?

MarleyQuinn · Apr 26, 2014

I have a Cockatiel, Pelican, who is currently molting. His crown seems to be growing in a bit weird, and I'm no bird expert so I don't understand whats going on.

It looks like he has Sticks growing out of his head?

I tried to get a few pictures but he's not fond of the camera, so we did our best.

Let me know what's going on..?

Sterling1113 · Apr 26, 2014

It's likely just the waxy casing that all feathers are enclosed in when they grow.
Unlike hair, feathers have individual strands growing out of the middle "stem" section, and those would get caught on the way out without this coating! Ouch!
Just leave them be for a little while, once they're mostly grown you'll notice they start to look dry and ready to fall off.(much like when a reptile sheds skin.) Then you can help you fid by "preening" or scratching the top of his head and rubbing the coating off of his new feathers. If he isn't around other birds that preen him, he'll greatly appreciate you helping him out with the feathers he can't reach!

Edit: I found a picture online of what pin feathers look like on the head of a bird compared to normal, fully grown feathers. : http://www.parrot-and-conure-world.com/images/green-cheek-conure-off-feather-growth-21721382.jpg That way you can look yourself and make sure!

MikeyTN · Apr 26, 2014

Those are called pin feathers, new feather growth!

Terry57 · Apr 26, 2014

Misting him or making sure he has a bath he can bathe himself in will help him to feel more comfortable as well

MarleyQuinn · Apr 27, 2014

Oh thank you! I thought it might be new feather growth, but figured new feathers grew in fully-feathered form. I didn't even consider any kind of casing.

Thanks, from :grey:

and Me

Allee · Apr 27, 2014

When a bird gets a patch of new pin feathers it can also make them cranky and uncomfortable.

As Terry said warm mist baths are helpful to soften up the shafts.

SweetBird · Apr 27, 2014

Yup, pin feathers! Pelican is adorable by the way!

TessieB · Apr 27, 2014

Ah, the Cockatiel Curl! The bane of lone cockatiels who haven't figured out how to preen his crest with his/her foot. They do look rather knarley don't they?

Cockatiel Crown growing in strange?

MarleyQuinn

New member

Attachments

Sterling1113

New member

MikeyTN

New member

Terry57

Moderator

MarleyQuinn

New member

Allee

Well-known member

SweetBird

New member

TessieB

New member

Cockatiel won't step up

Is Kiko a cinammon Cockatiel? 8o

Most Reactions

Similar threads

Latest posts