Are these what everyone calls pin feathers?

[YUMgrinder]

My first experience with molting, she is getting all these new feathers on the back of her head but she's not losing any feathers? Don't they purge the old feathers?

http://www.parrotforums.com/members/yumgrinder-albums-flock-picture17841-img-20170330-073415.jpg

 

[gavagai]

The picture's a bit blurry, but those look like blood feathers, still much too new to pop. Blood feathers will turn into pin feathers when they're fully mature. Parrots don't generally moult all at once; they lose feathers a few at a time and replace them as they lose them.

 

[YUMgrinder]

oh good to know! she really likes for me to scratch them but if I get one at a bad angle she squirms and squawks but then asks for more scratches lol.

So this is due to molting? She's about 6 months old so I think it's time for her to show her true colors. Yea the pic is blurry it was hard to get a good pic. They seem to be growing in patches on her head and neck.

 

[gavagai]

Those definitely sound like blood or pin feathers. Pin feathers on the head and neck often seem to grow in clusters, and though I don't think I've seen it to that degree (with no regular feathers in between), I've never had a bird at its first moult either and perhaps that patterns differently. Six months is on the young side for a cockatiel's first moult but certainly not unheard of.

 

[Taw5106]

Here is a good picture of pin feathers. Poor Buddy looked like he had a hole in his head for a while. The white looking feathers are pins. They are incapsulated. Buddy will have me scratch his head to help brake the casing.

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[YUMgrinder]

Here's a better close up.

 

[Taw5106]

Here's a better close up.

Yes this are pins. They are sensitive so if they bathe and you rub them gently it will help loosen the casing.


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[YUMgrinder]

I gave her a bath and omg there are so many new feathers growing all over! I'm super stoked to see if any different colors emerge!

 

[Taw5106]

I gave her a bath and omg there are so many new feathers growing all over! I'm super stoked to see if any different colors emerge!

LOLLLLL!!! It's that time of year for her. Watch her bloom with new, gorgeous feathers.


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[PetoftheDay]

You know we will want "before and after" pictures, right?

 

[Taw5106]

You know we will want "before and after" pictures, right?

Good point, I know I want to see after pics!!


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