pinfeather problems?

[mick1]

Hi,

Our 6-year-old GC has had pinfeathers before and they don't seem to bother him too much.

But this latest crop of pins seems to be different. There seem to about 20 of them, a lot more than usual. And they seem somewhat longer than usual too. They are mostly on his head and neck and they have been on him for two months or so, maybe a bit longer. I don't recall them ever lasting this long.

I usually don't pay much attention to them and simply let nature take it's course. But these have been on him so long I'm beginning to wonder if something is wrong. I have been putting him in the sink every other day for a "shower" but it seems to have no effect.

I've done some reading about them and I'm tempted to put my fingers around them and spin the sheathes around gently but I'm afraid I'll hurt him.

Is there anything dietary that might help him get rid of these?

Thanks

 

[Mimsy01]

He's probably just going through a heavy molt. Some birds are ok with letting you help remove them and some are not so ok with it. Foo lets me help and I just break them and then pull them off.

During molting upping their protein a little is good, perhaps a little hard boiled egg a few times a week. Lots of baths.