Ingrown Feather? Help

[ToMang07]

So I was petting Willow and noticed she had a tender spot on her wing. So I put her on her back to investigate, and found this:

Now every feather she has lost since I have had her has been complete, and no blood. So I'm guessing she had it when I got her.

Do I need to go to the vet? Anyone seen this before?

 

[JerseyWendy]

Have a look: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/27803-ingrown-feather.html

Feather Cysts / Feather Lumps: Causes & Treatment

All About Your Parrot's Feathers - The Causes Of Molt, Feather Problems And What You Can Do About Them

 

[mollybird]

First, let me say that I am not suggesting that you don't have the feather checked out by an avian vet. That said, I'll tell you my experience.

Buford, our B&G, had an ingrown primary feather, or feather cyst. He had what looked like a dried up feather stub sticking out about 3/4". When I inspected closer, it fell out, leaving a hole. Next to it was a purple lump. See the picture below.


I took him to the vet who probed the purple lump and said it was a feather cyst. He put Buford under and pulled out two ingrown feathers. He said that it was possible that the follicle was damaged and that nothing would grow back.

A few weeks later, a new feather started to grow out of the hole where the first stub had fallen out. It too looked mis-formed. The vet said to leave it. You can see in the photo below that it is twisted.

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Shortly after this, a new dried out feather stub appeared where the purple lump had been. I called the vet to find that he had left the practice to return to Alabama. I found a new avian vet and took Buford there. The new vet said that neither were a problem, just leave them alone. (I wasn't very happy with this vet's personality and methods, so we won't be going back)

The feather grew in and is twisted along it's length (affectionately know as 'Twisty'). I wish he would pull it out.

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The stub appeared to be coming out the wrong place. I don't have a photo of it, but there was a hole in the skin on the side of the shaft, which left a little flap of skin that was getting stretched as the stub tried to grow out. It seemed to bother Buford and the vet I had taken him to see wasn't going to do anything about it (and I didn't want to go back).

I carefully trimmed the stub back a little at a time until I could pull the flap over the stub and let it come out the 'right' hole. Once I did that, I was able to pull the stub out.

I'm happy to say that a new, normal feather has taken its place. Buford still has 'Twisty', but everything else looks normal.

I hope this is helpful.