Perjo wing feather picture

Perjo seems she can't 5-6 weeks without rough housing and causing some level of damage to one of her wing feathers.

She's never reacted bad to any of it, when I try to touch said feather or pet her once in a while she reacts and doesn't want me to, but no moans or groans that she is in any constant or noticeable discomfort.

Often these feathers look awkward and stick out at a weird angle when she flaps her wings or ruffles her feathers.

Today I found one on the ground, it was from yesterday she got spooked in her cage and flew all over the place inside of it. I knew it would be on the floor sooner than later, I have to assume to picked at it and probably plucked it.

Pic below, please give me your thoughts on the feather and the tip, I'm trying to educate myself and what to know when I see them based on the appearance of the tip.

Welcome to the rough house World of young Parrots!

What you are looking at is a feather that has been forced out of place by an accident! It is also a young (new) feather. That can bee seen by the slightly bloody root base. With good luck, the feather came out at its root.

A feather like this, but commonly newer can result in what is known as a 'Blood Feather.' Blood Feathers are serious issues and can occur at any age when new feathers are coming in. A Blood Feather breaks above the root on the lower stem of the new feather. That type of break leaves and results in an open flow of blood from the feathers root. They are very difficult to stop and commonly requires finding and pulling the remaining feather root.

Blood Feathers and their resulting flowing blood is one of the major driving reasons that a well supplied Avian Emergency, First Aid Kit is needed! With young Parrots, even more so!

My time is limited this morning, but starting a Thread on 'What To Do If My Parrot Has a Blood Feather is a worth while Thread Topic!

Yes, the youngsters will occasionally hurt themselves...Nigel has done this a couple of times but he's ok. They just are rough and tumble.

For a week now if not ten days I haave seen Perjo with a feather in her beak, most of them look like they were pulled out, shafts look complete and not broke.

Starting to concern me, despit the fact she might be in her second molt.

Been suggested by quite a few people to add aloe vera juice to her water?

Thoughts?

I'm getting frustrated b/c I'm not gone from home for 7-8 hrs at a time, she has enough toys and food all day. She seems happy when I'm here, and seems to be willing to communicate with me within 1 minute of walking in the door.

But she still struggles to fly now too. This cannot be allowed to become a long term thing.

DRB said:

For a week now if not ten days I haave seen Perjo with a feather in her beak, most of them look like they were pulled out, shafts look complete and not broke.

Starting to concern me, despit the fact she might be in her second molt.

Been suggested by quite a few people to add aloe vera juice to her water?

Thoughts?

I'm getting frustrated b/c I'm not gone from home for 7-8 hrs at a time, she has enough toys and food all day. She seems happy when I'm here, and seems to be willing to communicate with me within 1 minute of walking in the door.

But she still struggles to fly now too. This cannot be allowed to become a long term thing.

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But what if it does? Than what?

I would start will applying (misting) 'Avian' Aloe Vera directly to the area(s) affected. NOTE: Avian Spec (pure) Aloe Vera only! No additives and other stuff. Available at your CAV Clinic.

I've attempted that but Perjo is very averse to any misting that isn't considered a bath in her mind, and is not the most fond of me accessing her under wings.

DRB said:

I've attempted that but Perjo is very averse to any misting that isn't considered a bath in her mind, and is not the most fond of me accessing her under wings.

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Welcome to the World of "My Parrot Hates It When I Provide Medications /Medical Support Treatments!" I have not come across any Parrot that does. Sure that there is likely 'one' out there, but none of my every have. We need to mist our guy three or more times per day, apply topicals every two to four days and provide medication as directed. He does not like any of it.

Its all part of loving and living with Parrots. One of my common recommendations to new Parrot owners is that only Good Things Happen When Humans Are Around. It clearly helps with Socializing and the continued development of a Trusting Bond. It also helps when you have to supply Medical based stuff!

Anothe large feather pulled out today. I honestly cannot believe she actually has feathers left. So frustrating. I don't understand this at all b/c her vet vists was fine, she's perfectly healthy and she seems to be just fine behavorially. A pretty happy bird 85% of the day. The other 15% is attributed to her being a CAG.

Gather up the Flight Feathers that you have been collecting and lay them out - those that have a slight or clear bend to the left in one pile and those that bend to the right in the other pile. This will quickly provide a clear picture of how many and where she is losing them. If it is generally spread equally right and left and along the length of the wing - it could be general rough housing. However, if it is clearly one wing and/or a specific location of that Wing, its time for a very close look at that (those) areas. Your findings will quickly determine whether a quick trip to the Vet is needed or you need to open-up her play area(s).

Do you know how to define the location of each feather on the Wing? Use her Wing as a guide.

I do not know how to do that. And I have saved quite a few of these feathers.

DRB said:

I do not know how to do that. And I have saved quite a few of these feathers.

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First, as noted, separate into two groups - Right and Left feathers.

Second, take the largest group and set them in front of you. Look at each feather and note that from the center to either edge, they differ in width to equal in width.

Third, place them in a row based on: As you start from the most outside Primary feather, it would have a very narrow width on one side an a standard on the other. As the narrow side get ever so wider, it become the next feather until you arrival at near equal width of each side.

It really is that simple. All else fails, check the feather layout on your Parrot.

Enjoy!

Her feather distribution is way off from the right wing to the left, she has few long feathers remaining on the right wing. This is partly why I think she sinks so quickly now.

I may have to reevaluate her interior cage set up, maybe I have too much stuff in there that she gets roughed up with.

DRB said:

Her feather distribution is way off from the right wing to the left, she has few long feathers remaining on the right wing. This is partly why I think she sinks so quickly now.

I may have to reevaluate her interior cage set up, maybe I have too much stuff in there that she gets roughed up with.

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Well that clearly defines it as not molting, since Wing feathers are molted balanced side to side.

If she is very consistent regarding her roosting position, look at that side of the cage that she has lost the most feathers and start there first. Note consider that the roosting perch is not long enough and she is extending the Wing into the bars. Get a bit crazy looking at the configurations, sizing and lengths of everything compared to where the majority of feather loss is occurring. Defined a zone that her Wing is working inside of this will help in prioritizing your efforts.

If Perjo isn't eating or singing and trying to talk she has her beak on her wings. It's just ridiculous how many times a day, heck a minute I see her picking at herself. I understand that preening is an important part of their instincs and their day but if one cannot tell when they are preening or plucking it becomes a major concern.

Timneh lost one of her tail feathers today I see. I figure you've seen Perjos look like this too but I figured I'd throw the picture up here. I totally thought about you guys when I saw it.