Quaker Parrot bent his tail

Blueridge

New member
Sep 16, 2013
283
2
North Carolina
Parrots
Rocky - Yellow-Faced Quaker Parrot
I just got home from school and I took out my bird and put him on my shoulder, then got some ravioli to eat, then I sat on my bed. My bird walked over near my face and I saw that his tail is bent! I'm really confused. I don't remember seeing his tail like that when I got him out of his cage, but I was probably just not paying attention. It looks pretty bad but he is obviously not in any discomfort. What should I do? I feel bad because when I first got him months ago he got startled by something and jumped off my shoulder and broke one of his big wing feathers, I don't know what those are called.

Then while examining his tail, I realized that some of the feathers under his tail have dark brown edges.. What is that? Is that from a bad diet? I finally got him on a pellet diet a few weeks ago instead of the seed/dried fruit mix that the pet store had fed him.. so he is eating much healthier.

Here's a picture, thanks!

blueridge-albums-random-pictures-picture10678-image.jpg
 
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JerseyWendy

New member
Jul 20, 2012
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No worries about Rocky's tail. It's just a little kink. :) You could try straightening it CAREFULLY by wetting the tail and trying to get the kink out. There's even a possibility he'll preen it out a little himself. Water should help a bit.

IF it doesn't straighten, he'll have a perfectly straight tail once he regrows that particular feather. Still, the little kink shouldn't hinder him in any way, shape or form. :)

GREAT for you for getting him to eat pellets!!! :D
 
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Blueridge

Blueridge

New member
Sep 16, 2013
283
2
North Carolina
Parrots
Rocky - Yellow-Faced Quaker Parrot
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No worries about Rocky's tail. It's just a little kink. :) You could try straightening it CAREFULLY by wetting the tail and trying to get the kink out. There's even a possibility he'll preen it out a little himself. Water should help a bit.

IF it doesn't straighten, he'll have a perfectly straight tail once he regrows that particular feather. Still, the little kink shouldn't hinder him in any way, shape or form. :)

GREAT for you for getting him to eat pellets!!! :D

Okay thanks Wendy for letting me know it's not that serious! :D
 

crimson

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Oct 8, 2012
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I didn't know tail feathers could just bend and stay like that.

I've seen feathers break, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about, like Wendy said.
 

Betrisher

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Jun 3, 2013
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Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Parrots
Dominic: Galah(RIP: 1981-2018); The Lovies: Four Blue Masked Lovebirds; Barney and Madge (The Beaks): Alexandrines; Miss Rosetta Stone: Little Corella
Nothing to worry about. My poor Madge got her tail seriously bent by evil Dominic a while back. I mean, not to lessen the importance of your little guy's tail bending, but when the bend is in the lower third of a long, graceful Alexandrine tail, it's particularly funn - er - tragic. Magically, the bend was gone in just a few days! I expect Madgie preened it out. I had tried to straighten it myself (was even trying to figure out how to put splints on it) but she beat me to it. These birds are a lot more resourceful than we think, I reckon.
 

BoomBoom

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May 2, 2012
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Parrots
Boomer (Sun Conure 9 yrs), Pewpew (Budgie 5 yrs), Ulap (Budgie 2 yrs), Eight & Kiki (Beloved Budgies, RIP)
I wouldn't worry too much about it :) He probably had it pushed against his cage for a long time and didn't realize it. If it doesn't straighten out on its own, at least it will molt out eventually. The dark brown edges on the tail could be from wear and tear. Boomer gets it on his really old feathers. You could post a close up of the tail if it's still a concern so we can form a better opinion of the discoloration.
 

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