Blood Feathers

[cartel]

I have a gouldian that seems to have broken one or to blood feather earlier today.What a bloody mess she was i thought she was going to bleed to death The question i have is do really have too pull the feather out if it is left in their? And on a minor note does anyone a good way to clean up dried blood off a bird?

Thank you

[B CAMP]

I think most take them out as it will keep bleeding But I haven't had to do it maybe someone will chime in here thats sure about it sorry not much help good luck how is she today

[L in Ontario]

My understanding is the same as Bill's. When my Gouldian broke a blood-feather, you're right - what a mess. Blood on the floor (outside the cage) and on the wall behind it! But I just left the bird as it appeared fine (when I found out which one it was) and it cleaned itself up within a couple of days.

[CandoAviary]

I have never had a finch break a feather but when I worked at the pet store it would happen with the larger birds, Macaws, amazons, etc. Usually too big of a bird in too small of a cage.
You need to grip the feather at the base, the thickest part of the quill and pluck it with a firm tug/ Do not jerk as you can damage the duct. They come out pretty easily and the feather will grow back. Provide a bath and the bird will clean itself. You may want to seperate the bird with plenty of good foods to let it recooperate and buil it's strength/blood back up. Do remove the feather because if it starts to bleed again the finch could weaken to the point of death.

[B CAMP]

This would be a good subject to be added to a sticky

[Sally]

Better yet, this would be good as part of an article at the Finch Information Center on health emergencies.

[cartel]

Thank you all for the info in your replies.I think i will try and remove the damaged feathers as Candace suggested.Mainly the fact of reopening the wound and it being one or to flight feathers.Wish me luck,and say a prayer for the little bird

[CandoAviary]

I have you and the bird in my prayers. The duct does not bleed, just the quill of the feathers. I have pulled many over the years at the pet store. Never had a problem afterwards and the feather was replace fairly quickly....Kind of like plucking a big hair

[lovemyfinch]

Wishing you luck, and prayers are being said.

[cartel]

Thank you for the prayers.It seems they have been answered,as i pulled the feathers out today and all is well.It was'nt that difficult as i thought before hand.Oh well i guess it a part of keeping birds,and i have a little more experience taking care of them.

Thanks for the help guys

[BillD]

I can only give advice from the Raptors that allowed me to 'own' them.

Broken blood feathers are a serious issue. I've found it is best to pluck it.. It stops the blood from feeding the broken feather which acts like a straw.

http://petcare.suite101.com/article.cfm ... od_feather

Hope that helps.

Sorry.. didn't see that you already did that.

[CandoAviary]

Glad you got the feather out. I think it is the nerves the first time that is so hard. The first one I had to do was on a scarlet macaw and there were like 4 of them. I was a nervous wreck. But like you found...it is not so bad. And the smaller the bird the easier they cone out. Good Job

[BillD]

Better yet, this would be good as part of an article at the Finch Information Center on health emergencies.

I agree with Sally. This would help others that will go through the same.

[Hope]

Glad everything went well and your bird is okay.

BillD.. thanks for the link. This is something new to me. I didn't know what a blood feather was. If this had happened to one of my birds I would have freaked

[BillD]

I'm glad you found it informative Hope.

I've only had experience with that in Raptors. I also learned how to 'pin' a feather onto broken full feathers. That was in my falconry days and I don't think it would be useful for finches.