Bloody feathers please help!

[CosiGirl]

Cozy pulled out a small wing feather. She looked at me proudly with the feather in her mouth and wet blood on the feather and her beak. She is still not great with hands. How do I open up her wing to see the injury without traumatizing her? Is there a way??? Please help thanks!

 

[HeatherG]

If the whole feather including the butt end is in her beak, it’s entirely out. If broken off, it’s not. Sounds like she pulled the whole feather after it got damaged somehow?

I posted a photo of this about a week ago under a similar thread asking about dried blood on a dropped feather. Here’s what a whole, pulled blood feather looks like:

 

[CosiGirl]

If the whole feather including the butt end is in her beak, it’s entirely out. If broken off, it’s not. Sounds like she pulled the whole feather after it got damaged somehow?

I posted a photo of this about a week ago under a similar thread asking about dried blood on a dropped feather. Here’s what a whole, pulled blood feather looks like:

View attachment 42147

Here is a

If the whole feather including the butt end is in her beak, it’s entirely out. If broken off, it’s not. Sounds like she pulled the whole feather after it got damaged somehow?

I posted a photo of this about a week ago under a similar thread asking about dried blood on a dropped feather. Here’s what a whole, pulled blood feather looks like:

View attachment 42147

here Is the feather

 

[HeatherG]

Huh. Honestly I can’t tell if she got the whole thing out. I THINK she did and it’s just a contour feather with a short feather vane which is why you see the short and bloody feather stump…

If she is really bleeding, she’ll actually DRIP. I think she just did what Willow did a week ago: I noticed a tail feather was at a funny angle, he was in a crabby mood, and suddenly he handed (beaked) me this immature tail feather while having blood on the tip of his beak.

I looked at Willow’s behind and didn’t see any drips, though I didn’t catch him and examine the spot from which he pulled that feather.

I would just watch that this doesn’t become a habit. Bath bowl, anyone? That would be a non invasive way to help the feathers emerge.

 

[CosiGirl]

Huh. Honestly I can’t tell if she got the whole thing out. I’m sorry.

If she is really bleeding, she’ll actually DRIP. I think she just did what Willow did a week ago: I noticed a tail feather was at a funny angle, he was in a crabby mood, and suddenly he handed (beaked) me this immature tail feather while having blood on the tip of his beak.

I looked at his behind and didn’t see any drips, though I didn’t catch him and examine the spot from which he pulled that feather.

There are no blood drippings like on to the ground or anything. But when she stretches her wing or preens I can see some bright red blood. She goes back to that spot too. Uhhhh what to do??

 

[HeatherG]

I would dust the area with corn starch if I was really concerned. But I think if she pulled it all out she will clot. Just keep an eye on her. Maybe give her a bath in a day or two to get the old blood off.

 

[CosiGirl]

From what I can see now when she lifts her wing herself, there is very little blood there now. So I think it has clotted. And it was a very small feather on the underside of her wing. Hopefully that will be the end of it. Although she keeps bothering with the area.

Unfortunately, Cozy has yet to try a bowl bath. I mist her once a week-ish. I will definitely try reintroducing it to her though.

Thanks for the help, HeatherG!

 

[vsk101]

How is she doing? I just went through something similar with my guy. The vet told me it's best to take photos and email so they can look at it and see if an appointment is needed. They said sometimes the bird is in pain and needs pain meds and to watch for signs of discomfort. My guy clearly was not in any pain or bothered by it at all. BTW, they do not recommend owner's remove blood feathers but occasionally the vet will want to remove.

 

[GaleriaGila]

In case you need a link to professional veterinary help... second opinions, closer practices, whatever...
Certified Avian Vets

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In my opinion, any of the vets listed here should be better than a regular vet.
International contacts, too.
Or... sometimes I find a place to start just by Googling "avian veterinarian near ((your location))"

Good luck!

 

[CosiGirl]

Thanks everyone! Cozy seems to be doing ok now. Although, a few weeks before she pulled out that dang feather, she did fly into a chair trying to land on it and hurt that wing. She still is a little off with it but we are keeping a close eye on it. We have an avian vet very close by that we actually found on that website!