Alright so, it’s messy. But the basics are here. Blood feathers are one of the first stages of feather growth. It is a sheath (purple here, usually dark colored) and inside is, well, blood. It is there to nourish the growing feather (grey) as it forms on the inside. The next important stage is the pin feather. The feather is fully formed, but is still inside the now dry and flaky sheath. It might not quite be ready to break free if things inside are still breaking down and drying off. Stage three is the opening pin feather. At this stage, a bird, its flockmates, or you can break the sheath and reveal the fluffy feather inside. It’s rather incredible, actually.Blood feathers are very sensitive and the bird will feel pain if you touch or move it. They can be dangerous, most notably on the biggest feathers (wings and tails) because if they break, the bird will bleed for quite some time. In severe cases, it can be fatal. If a blood feather breaks, the quickest way to stop the bleeding and allow for new growth is to hold the bird (probably in a Bander’s grip, seen below), grab onto the feather, and pull it straight out of the skin. Ultimately, it is less dangerous and less painful for the bird, but it is not fun for either party. Do not encourage strenuous activity or flight when you see big blood feathers on the wings or tail. Pin feathers are also uncomfortable, and probably itchy. Birds often take baths to loosen them up. To remove a pin feather, just hold it between two fingers or fingernails, and very gently roll it. The sheath turns into a flaky powder (the so-called bird dust) and voila! Feather! Once the feather has endured a lot of wear and tear, it will simply fall off. Molting seasons make for lots of blood, pin, and fallen feathers, but it won’t last more than a few weeks. In the meantime, your ‘tiel might be a little touchy. For more bird info, check out our FAQ and FAQ tag! Best wishes!-Admin Rei
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