Sitemaps

Whats on my budgies head2007-11-24 17:17:37

There are three thin white things poking out of the top of his head. They look like feather stalks sort of, but with no feathers? I'm wondering if that's been making him cranky lately (because he has been). What is it exactly, and should I pull them out?

Answers:

He is molting, it is spring and alot of birds go through a molt at this time. You shouldn't pull them out. It does make them cranky but please understand your birdy doesn't mean any harm! It is just so darn itchy! You can help with alot of head scritches.

Here is another picture of the same thing to reassure you:

http://www.birds-online.de/gesundheit/ge...

Edit: Here is a picture of a budgie with a broken blood feather above his cere:

http://www.birds-online.de/gesundheit/ge...

Pin feathers, also called blood feathers, will emerge encased in a sheath called a quill. The quill is whitish in color and has a clear plastic-like appearance. The quill will contain a blood vein. As the feather grows inside of the quill, the blood vein retracts and the quill flakes off and disintegrates.

Birds will remove the quills from the pin feathers and pairs will preen each other to remove the old sheaths. Singly kept birds will benefit from having their owners preen the sheath in the places that they can't reach such as their head and neck area. Before you preen your bird's feathers check for the presence of blood feathers. New blood feathers are quite sensitive and your bird will surely let you know if you accidently try to preen one of them. Gently roll the end of the quill between your fingers to remove the sheath. The sheath should fall off easily. Birds can be sprayed daily to help them with the itchiness. If you prefer not to touch him he will shed them by himself you aren't required to pull them out for him.