How to preen new feathers without hurting your bird?

[torrap]

The new feathers are coming out on both of my zons. I am trying to feel the tubes on their heads. Then I take one of them and try to squeeze with my fingers or fingernails. Many times my zons would make a sound like it's hurting and move their head like they want to bite.
What am I doing wrong? Did I go for the tubes that are too short? Should I let them grow into longer tubes? How long are they need to be? I don't want to hurt them.
They still want me to do that, but I thought I'll check with people who know better.....:54:...before I make my birds just hate the activity they suppose to enjoy.

 

[getwozzy]

If they're making a sound and flipping their head to bite, then it's still tender and new so it's best to leave it.

I usually check all pin feathers daily and get the ones I can. Showers/bathing helps also.

 

[Jumpingtadpoles]

Why do you need to pick the pin feathers?

 

[torrap]

I pick whatever has white coating over the base of the feather.
What else is there to pick?.....:54:
Sometimes everything goes OK, but sometimes they make sure I know they don't like it, and it looks like it hurts....

 

[Kalidasa]

It was always hit and miss for me too until I did it right after her shower when she was soaked, I put her under a bright light, and you can see everything very clearly. I pulled off about a dozen sheaths, and they're easy to get off when wet, they just mush right off. If they're not ready they won't, don't force it. Just the gentlest pinch will get them off. It's harder when they're dry.

 

[d2page2]

My ggc Mina loves when I pick his for him. Sometimes he will "yell" at me like it hurts. 2 seconds later he has his head right back for more. The little stinker is molting now. Lots of picking to do. I really think it feels good most of the time for them. I also agree after bathing is the easiest time to pick them.

 

[ConureCrazy]

Sometimes their are ones that are very short and barely coming in, and I've learned to leave those alone. But the longer, white pins are fine (to Oliver anyway). I just go at the middle of the pin and pinch it, kind of, with my nails, and then roll it very gently. Sometimes I'll use a little bit of my nail and pinch it-ish to release the feather if the rolling is taking a bit.

I feel like I made this sound really painful for the bird. lol. It's not! Oliver loves it actually.

 

[Motogordo]

What will happen if you don't pick those feathers ?

 

[MomtoPercy]

What will happen if you don't pick those feathers ?

I think nature will take its course and tthe bird will get them off himself. At least, that's what happens with mine. He won't let me near those pins so I certainly can't take them off for him and I notice them dissapearing as time goes on. But I agree - he needs/loves more showers while he's molting.

 

[starrynightxxi]

rule of thumb here is to leave them alone as long as the sheath lays flat against the body. It seems like the one that are ready to go are typically standing away from the body with the rest of the feathers while the new ones press to the skin.

Sometimes I still hit one that's sensitive, but usually this method works. Sometimes it isn't so much a matter of one being particularly sensitive, as it is that I've accidentally pulled, or twisted, or otherwise moved a feather in a way that's hurt him.

There are also places that he doesn't like me grooming. Pretty much any spot that he can reach himself is off-limits to me, and also any of the thicker feathers (which are mostly in areas he can reach, anyway, so it's irrelevant lol)

Sometimes he just isn't in the mood for it lol

If you haven't had them very long, it may be a trust issue. It took several months before Leonard would let me do any of this. I could pet him anywhere, but he wouldn't let me ruffle his feathers in any way. And then I could give scritches, but if I tried to pinch a sheath off a new feather, he'd take offense. It was a process lol

 

[Mekaisto]

Leave them alone, they'll shed by themselves, and it's a good habit for your parrot to clean off its own sheaths.

New feathers are tender and touching them can be painful. I only give my birds light scratches when they're moulting.

 

[Betrisher]

What about their heads, though? Dommie feels like a hedgehog all around his head and it can't be pleasant for him. I'd love to just squish those rotten pins away for him, but I can't seem to do it without annoying him.

 

[getwozzy]

I have to disagree with "leave them alone"- it's in their nature to preen each other, so when they don't have other birds to help with the process (it's also a bonding process, not just about hygiene), they get help from us...

But there are birds who don't like being handled that will figure it out- I have a budgie who will rub her head on her pedi perch to help with pin feathers.

 

[henpecked]

Jake (my hen nape) and I do things alittle different. I check her every day at least once a day for pin feathers. We discuss if they're "ripe" or not. She makes happy sounds if they're ready If still too tender she'll let me know and i'll check it again tomorrow.I'm always careful and watch her for reaction. She trust me completely and lets me preen almost her entire body. Something most folks over look are the down feathers. The contour feathers are what we notice because they are larger and more oblivious,the down feathers are small and tight to the body. Many times the pin feathers (contour and downy) are caught up under the older feathers and irritate the bird.I just straighten them up without removing the sheath. Of course the small down feather pins also need to have the sheath removed when ripe.Underdeveloped pins will be tender as they are full of blood and still growing. Gauge your birds reaction before attempting to remove the sheath. And yes, preening is a bonding tool both with paired/bonded birds and also immatures looking for acceptance in their flock. It's an important part in their social structure. Learn how to preen and also allow yourself to be preened.Of course after 40+ yrs Jake and i have it figured out. BTW if you pay attention they'll lead you to the feathers that are ready or irritating.

 

[Motogordo]

What will happen if you don't pick those feathers ?

I think nature will take its course and tthe bird will get them off himself. At least, that's what happens with mine. He won't let me near those pins so I certainly can't take them off for him and I notice them dissapearing as time goes on. But I agree - he needs/loves more showers while he's molting.

Jan.20,2014
Thank you very much for the feedback. I know that his stepmother likes to pick them. LOL

 

[Empath]

i'll leave them similarly to starrynight until they're standing up by themselves and have a long sheath. they dont seem to like me touching the ones just coming out of the skin. if you're ever unsure you can always start from the tips and work backwards a little bit.

some of my birds accept me doing it, others dont. i also find that when my brids have a bunch with the sheaths and are moulting they tend to be little angrier. one i've taken some of these sheaths off they seem a little better, not sure if this is just my imagination or not

 

[Betrisher]

Success! Today, Dommie sat with me for a good fifteen minutes and I managed to preen out a lot of his nasty pins. He seemed to enjoy it and fluffed up his feathers so I could reach them better. He certainly lets me know when I hurt him: I get a sharp nip for my pains! LOL!

My sister came to visit today while I happened to be playing with Dom. We were chatting over coffee and she got out her notebook to write something down. Before either of us realised what was going on, Dominic had shot across the table and latched onto my sister's finger and twisted in that charming way he has. She shrieked, Dominic shrieked, I shrieked and after much flapping the poor bird was finally dislodged and flew up to his playgym, where he raised his crest, spread his wings and squawked vituperatively at my sister. She, in her turn, shook her (bleeding) fist at him and called him a name I cannot write here. I swear that Dom was smiling as she marched off in high dudgeon!

PS. She has been warned that Dommie has a personality problem and is a confirmed biter. Oh well.

 

[MamaFuzz]

Take some time to look at the feathers before you start preening them. As the feather matures the blood flow stops but until the whole feather looks white you stand a chance of hurting your bird. Also as others have said doing it after a bath softens the sheaths and makes them easier to remove. I usually roll the feathers between my fingers to loosen the sheaths and they just fall out with a few normal scratches.

 

[starrynightxxi]

leonard won't let me touch him when his feathers are wet lol