FINCHforum

Hey guys,

I've got a male zebra that is getting this weird growth on the top of his wing that grows pretty big, then bleeds. It started a little while back, and I thought that his mate was plucking him. I separated the two, and he cleaned himself up nicely. The bump was still there, but it was small and you could hardly see it. Then, it started to grow throughout a couple weeks. I came home and he was bleeding again. I put some styptic powder on the wound and he stopped bleeding. Again, he cleaned up and the bump shrunk. While he was alone, the lump grew and I again found him bleeding. This growth seems to have this same pattern of growing and shrinking. I'm not sure if it bleeds on it's own or if he picks at it until it bleeds.

Raleighwheels

Could it be a feather that's growing inwards somehow, like an ingrown hair that gets infected?

There are a lot of pin feathers around that area. It looks like there is a white feather shaft in the center of it when the picture is enlarged. It is filled with blood, like a new feather would be. He probably picks at it either because he knows it should not be there or it hurts when it gets big. I think it has something to do with the blood supply to a feather that is not coming in right, but I don't know what you can do about it. Are there any good avian vets or a bird breeder in your area? If not, try going to BirdChannel.com.

wildbird wrote: There are a lot of pin feathers around that area. It looks like there is a white feather shaft in the center of it when the picture is enlarged. It is filled with blood, like a new feather would be. He probably picks at it either because he knows it should not be there or it hurts when it gets big. I think it has something to do with the blood supply to a feather that is not coming in right, but I don't know what you can do about it. Are there any good avian vets or a bird breeder in your area? If not, try going to BirdChannel.com.

Unfortunately there isn't a good avian vet near me. There's an exotic vet close by, but I'm afraid to go there because I've never had a bird survive after going there. I also don't know of any breeders that are close by.

Raleighwheels

That's too bad....

How comfortable is he with you holding him, without him having a heart attack?

lovezebs wrote: Raleighwheels

That's too bad....

How comfortable is he with you holding him, without him having a heart attack?

I can do it, but he definitely isn't a fan of any more than a few seconds of it.

Raleighwheels

My idea, would def take more than a few seconds.....

I was thinking of soaking his wing, growth and all in some warm water with a tiny bit of epsom salts in it, to see if this thing will pop and drain.

lovezebs wrote: Raleighwheels

My idea, would def take more than a few seconds.....

I was thinking of soaking his wing, growth and all in some warm water with a tiny bit of epsom salts in it, to see if this thing will pop and drain.

Hmmm... I could definitely give that a try. He might not be happy, but if it helps him, then I'd do whatever I have to do.

Raleighwheels

It's just a thought of something I would try in a similar situation.

Raleighwheels

Found some stuff on line here, which may be helpful....

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/pethealth ... birds.html


Check out ingrown feathers and or feather cysts on line, here is all sorts of information on there.

Be careful about encouraging it to break. It doesn't seem to be infected, just full of blood. It might eventually correct itself.