Blood feather issue

[noodles123]

SO, about a week ago, I noticed a small amount of dried blood on Noodles' neck. I called the vet that morning and explained that it appeared to be a small pinfeather that she had cracked and that the blood wasn't visible until I was lifting up layers of her feathers etc. It wasn't bleeding when I found it...Anyway, I couldn't find it when I looked for it a 2nd time, so I cancelled my appointment.

This morning, I managed to locate it (FINALLY). And I am torn as to whether or not I should have them pull it or just let it heal. We are going out of town tomorrow, so whatever I do, I want to do today. Obviously I don't want some sort of weird out-of-town, holiday bird emergency (and she is traveling with me).

It is a small feather (about 1 inch long) on the back/right-hand side of her neck . It appears that the feather was injured right at the point where the blood stops within the shaft--as though she was preening and went a little too far down. There is blood on the nearby feather (dry), but again, this was never a dripping/blood in cage/visible situation. You can't see it without lifting up feathers etc.


Would you say that the vet should pull it or not? I don't want to further complicate things by over-reacting. Thoughts?

 

[EllenD]

Honestly, when it comes to blood-feathers that have already broken/bled I get extremely nervous (Duff, my Cockatiel nearly died or should have died after breaking a huge one that I had to yank out with pliers, worst experience of my life)...So I say have your CAV pull it out so that you KNOW that it's done with an it's not going to be an issue...It doesn't cause them much pain at all if done quickly by someone who knows what they're doing, and if it's just a little one it will take literally 1 second to yank it and be completely done with it...

 

[noodles123]

I just have read all of these horror stories about complications etc...and so I am nervous, as I have never had to take her in to get this done. The last time I thought I would, she yanked the feather herself (with her "hand")...it was crazy and it worked...I guess I was too slow.