The first molt for both of us.

[Ann333]

This is more of an update than a question.

Pumpkin will be 5 months old in two days (born Halloween 2014). He has been a little grouch lately, first full on attacking my mom,but has also been snippy with me as well. I'm hoping part of this is because I just realism he is starting his (our) first molt.
He has been dropping dandruff all over my shirts for a few days so when I looked closer I noticed that he's covered in pin feathers. Poor thing, must be so uncomfortable. He has been letting me preen the ones he can't reach and seems so happy to let me do it. It's my fit time helping a bird with this so he has let me know when I'm doing it wrong (twice). But now that I've started he doesn't want me to stop and put him down. Poor thing I thought he was just being mean to me.

 

[hacatta]

i never really noticed the first molt of my first bird,but all four of mine never seem to have a real molt,sure they have periods were they drop feathers but i never see lots of pin feathers.
Mine do bathe everyday,i believe that helps with it.
Hope it will be over soon for your baby.

 

[LeaKP]

Yeah just be patient. As long as he bathes frequently and allows you to help open the pin feathers, he will be good. Also, if he doesn't want to be handled as much, don't think it will always be that way. Just until the bigger part of the molt is done. Good luck!

 

[Ann333]

Thanks for the heads up! He has always bathed very frequently. He take at least one bath a day, usually two for the last 3 months. He just loves water!! I do hope that's helping him. And I am learning what he can tolerate for preen8ng. He's teaching me. It's good to know he won be so moody forever. My fiance was worried he might be growing up and coming 8nto his true personality.

 

[Psittaciformes]

Awh!
Just be careful around the blood feathers and give him a lot of baths

 

[Ann333]

I feel so bad!! He comes to me literally pointing out pin feathers with his foot that he can't reach. He let's me try to help but I keep hurting him and he screams!! I feel so useless! I'm trying to be gentle but I've never done this before. I don't want to twist or pull so I've been pinching with my thumb nail...

 

[JamesC]

Pinching the blood feathers can hurt. Not sure if it is nerves or maybe blood being forced back down the shaft. I just kinda rub my finger back and forth across them and watch out for the dark ones. When they dry up, they seem to get a bit different color so then I'll gently rub them between finger and thumb. They still will crack with light pressure and if there is no protest then maybe a little more rubbing. I've noticed that it is best to not try to rub off all the shell. If you crack and remove some of the shell, the feather will absorb water during the next bath and crack off more of it.

 

[Ann333]

That's really helpful thank you!! I do stay away from the dark ones and the ones that are still completely encased. I try to only mess with the white flakes ones that already have the tip of feather breaking through. I was trying to get most of the casing off, knowing that cracking it should be enough is awesome. He bathes himself all the time so if the water will take it off after I Crack it that's great!!