Ratty Feathers

[pepperoni]

Hello!! Again new to the community. I had a question in regards to tail feathers because our usual groomer suggested something and it seemed a little odd and I was unsure if it was okay. My bird currently has some ratty tail feathers — I’m not sure if it’s a hormonal thing but recently they’ve been rubbing against one of their perches a lot and usually I try to stop it but they still messed up some tail feathers.

Anyways today at the pet shop our groomer pointed it out and said he could pull the messed up ones out and I was skeptical but he suggested it since he said it tends to bother the birds and could be itchy. He did tell me he’d only pull the ones that seemed more “loose” and that it wouldn’t hurt but that they would feel slight pressure. I declined the service he offered because I didn’t want to hurt my bird and didn’t know if it was ok. But I wanted to know if this is an okay thing to do? Should ratty tail feathers be pulled out or should I just let them fall out and or let my conure handle them (ie. they can pluck it themselves when they feel like it)?

My other question just out of curiosity — just because I saw it in another forum is it okay to trim down ratty tail feathers? Or should they just be left alone?

 

[rheashard2]

Bird feathers are like hair and fingernails. There's no feeling. If itchy it's at skin level and below. Some birds are over energetic in preening the old feathers. They will after a point pull out the old for the new to grow in. When I see ratty flight or tail feathers I look for causes. Usually she's getting ready to molt those particular feathers. Evaluate first why they are ratty. I'm cautious. I hesitate to pull out feathers for cosmetic reasons. Pulling out a feather hurts. So why subject your bird to unnecessary pain? Trimming depends on your bird's personality. Some may not care. Some will pull them out.

 

[jeaner]

Hello!! Again new to the community. I had a question in regards to tail feathers because our usual groomer suggested something and it seemed a little odd and I was unsure if it was okay. My bird currently has some ratty tail feathers — I’m not sure if it’s a hormonal thing but recently they’ve been rubbing against one of their perches a lot and usually I try to stop it but they still messed up some tail feathers.

Anyways today at the pet shop our groomer pointed it out and said he could pull the messed up ones out and I was skeptical but he suggested it since he said it tends to bother the birds and could be itchy. He did tell me he’d only pull the ones that seemed more “loose” and that it wouldn’t hurt but that they would feel slight pressure. I declined the service he offered because I didn’t want to hurt my bird and didn’t know if it was ok. But I wanted to know if this is an okay thing to do? Should ratty tail feathers be pulled out or should I just let them fall out and or let my conure handle them (ie. they can pluck it themselves when they feel like it)?

My other question just out of curiosity — just because I saw it in another forum is it okay to trim down ratty tail feathers? Or should they just be left alone?

I have questions...
#1 You have a groomer for your bird?
#2 You trust a pet store employee with your bird's welfare?
#3 How long have you owned your bird?
#4 Not a question, find an avian vet, or at least an exotic vet to get advice from. Not a pet store groomer.

Your pet store employee is not a professional! He might be kind hearted or sound quite knowledgeable, but he is a pet store employee, not a professional. Avian vets are specialized and take years more education after becoming a vet.

ok, my uneducated response. Take your bird to a real vet, not a pet store, for advice. My experience with MY bird which I can attest to:

My bird only gets her nails trimmed (by her vet!) and that is about every 3 months. We use that time to get her weight and the Dr gives her some loving to maintain a little bond. She goes to the vet once a year for a check-up and once or twice a year to get her hormone implant. Her vet, not a pet store employee. There are vet-techs who may be responsible and experienced to trim your birds nails, but I haven't found one that I trust. There are bird owners who trim their bird's nails but I guarantee they have been trained and advised on how to do it. Some people get a beak trim as well, mine hasn't needed one.

Losing a feather, big or small is TRAUMATIC if they don't come out on their own. Any vet will tell you that is a very uneducated thing to do. Know matter how ratty they look, if the feather is solid and secure, that's normal. My bird has a wooden ring that she leans against sometimes and it can put some wear and tear on the feathers. The only reason you would pull a feather is if it has broken and is bleeding because birds are hemophiliacs (blood doesn't clot.)

Some people have the flight feathers cut back so the bird doesn't fly away, and I had the vet do it a couple of times, but accepted that I am a grown-up and I have screens and I know how to close her in her cage when the doors need to be propped open and I feel like it had a negative affect on her emotional well being so I stopped.

Please, please, please go to an avian vet for advise! It is the only thing a bird owner can tell you for your bird's health.

 

[Jcas]

Bird’s feathers will fall out when they are ready. They shouldn’t be pulled. It can cause pain and potentially bleeding if it tears the skin at all. I wouldn’t trim them either. They might look a little ratty but shortening feathers can throw off a bird’s balance. I’m glad you are asking for advice from many people and not just listening to what one person tells you. Birds are fascinating but sometimes complex creatures to share our lives with and the more input you can get on caring for them the better!

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

I agree with the others- let the feathers fall out on their own. My guys have ratty-looking tails, too. Bathing helps them straighten out the feathers in question and shouldn't be cut or pulled unless there's a serious medical problem