Should I cut this broken tail feather?

Ann333 · Aug 5, 2015

This tail feather broke halfway down the shaft and is sticking out at a wonky angle. At first it wasn't too bad and would lay flat, but the last two day it seems to just be flopping around every which way more often than not. Should I worry about it getting snagged?

JerseyWendy · Aug 5, 2015

Ann, you can cut it right where it cracked. Whenever something like this happens to my fids I think it bothers me more than them when a feather is sticking out awkwardly because it was cracked somewhere, so I take care of that feather with a pair or scissors.

Newbsi · Aug 5, 2015

I would have thought cutting it would hurt. I would think pulling it would make a new one grow back. So if that happens you cut it?
Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed by how much I don't know

JerseyWendy · Aug 5, 2015

Newbsi said:
I would have thought cutting it would hurt. I would think pulling it would make a new one grow back. So if that happens you cut it?
Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed by how much I don't know

You ONLY resort to pulling a feather if an actively growing feather is damaged at the shaft, and the bleeding won't stop.

Cutting an existing feather that's cracked somewhere, right at or slightly above the actual crack, is like cutting your fingernail. The bird won't feel a thing.

Newbsi · Aug 5, 2015

Good to know!

Christinenc2000 · Aug 5, 2015

JerseyWendy said:
Newbsi said:

I would have thought cutting it would hurt. I would think pulling it would make a new one grow back. So if that happens you cut it?
Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed by how much I don't know

Click to expand...

You ONLY resort to pulling a feather if an actively growing feather is damaged at the shaft, and the bleeding won't stop.

Cutting an existing feather that's cracked somewhere, right at or slightly above the actual crack, is like cutting your fingernail. The bird won't feel a thing.

GREAT information !!

Ann333 · Aug 5, 2015

Thanks I'll cut it then.

I knew not to pull it.

Taw5106 · Aug 5, 2015

When I had my tiel Sam, I came home from work and found blood all over Sam and the cage. I panicked, packed Sam up and went to the ER vet. Sam had what the vet called a blood feather, meaning a live feather which was still receiving blood flow was broken allowing the blood to continue to flow at the break. For three days Sam wore a satellite dish, me being a bad parront died laughing when she was brought to me with her purple satellite dish around her neck, but it was placed there to keep her from messing with the location of the feather. The vet pulled the offensive feather, apparently she broke it while preening. After that, no more issues. That's the opposite of the issue you experienced. I've never pulled or cut feathers, lots of experience on this forum, the members are fabulous.

Should I cut this broken tail feather?

Ann333

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