Blood feather

[bluemorning]

Our african grey just broke a blood feather.We can not pull it because its broken off right at his skin and cannot get a hold of it.We stopped the bleeding (he was in alot of pain).with cornstarch.We're watching to make sure he is not bleeding.No avian vets here and all vets are closed now.Closest is 1 1/2 hr away but also closed.Should this get pulled or not.It would have to wait till tomorrow.Right now he is resting and not happy with us.Poor guy.I feel so bad for him.Any answers would be really apperciated.Thanks

 

[Deejo]

We had the exact same thing happen with one of our greys. Feather broke very near the skin, and we decided to pull it.
By the time we gathered the things to take care of the feather, he had taken care if it himself.
That's what they would need to do in the wild - fix it or bleed to death.
Not saying your bird will do this - just that quite often, the bird takes care of it.
However, if you aren't comfortable pulling it yourself, get him to the vet tomorrow. It has to be removed.
Keep a very close eye on him.
Best of luck.

 

[Birdiemarie]

As long as the bleeding has stopped that's good. If you have cayenne pepper you can also apply some of that because it will help sooth any irritation and works as an antiseptic. If he is leaving the area alone it should be fine till morning when you can call the vet and see what he suggests. Sometimes when the feather breaks right at the skin there is no problem but sometimes it needs to be pulled because it starts bleeding again and acts like an open straw. Don't fuss with it but keep an eye on him. If it starts bleeding again apply more cayenne pepper or cornstarch and apply pressure with a clean rag till it stops bleeding.

 

[bluemorning]

It's so deep I don't think we can get a hold of it. Right now he won't let us near him.He's resting in his cage but growls at us.He's been through alot right now,and I guess he blames us.Could this get infected? How would we pull it when it's so deep,push the skin back?

 

[bluemorning]

Thanks! I guess I was posting at the same time.I'll call the vet tomorrow,if something happens I'll use the cayenne pepper.Thanks to you both for the answers!

 

[Laurul Feather Cat]

I had a cockatiel break off a blood feather below skin level and had to use a hemostat to get it out. I had to push pretty hard on her to get hold of the broken feather, but it did come out. I would have never gotten it except for that hemostat. Tasha was very unhappy with me for weeks.

 

[Birdiemarie]

Virginia, any problems during the night?

 

[suncoast]

How's he doing?

Ginger

 

[kitsunebandit]

hope he's okay, had my Harris' hawk break a feather before, we left it in, but it did moult out pretty soon. Sadly he nearly did die from it but we got him back to health, he's great now.

Perhaps see a vet when they're open again, but for now keep a close eye on him

 

[Anne & Gang]

poor guy..hope he is ok..please give us an update!

 

[bluemorning]

He's still sleeping.He seems fine.No vets open here yet for awhile.I think I will leave him in his cage so he doesn't bump his wing and remove a few toys.He sure is not happy with us,wouldn't even take his fav. treats last night.I will let everyone know after I get hold of a vet.Thank You

 

[ILoveTiels]

maybe you could grip it with some pliers or tweezers?

 

[April]

Poor guy,I hope he will be ok.

 

[Birdiemarie]

maybe you could grip it with some pliers or tweezers?

That can work sometimes but as I found when it happened to Ruby and I grabbed the edges with the needle-nosed pliars the edges just fell apart causing the shaft to be even more embedded under the skin. The vet had to extract it.

 

[ILoveTiels]

awe. poor baby. well, hopefully the vet can get it out.

 

[crzybrdldy]

Trying to remove a broken blood feather really is a two person job. One thing though if you try to remove it yourself he will probably have ill feelings towards you for a while. I would really let the vet be the bad guy and remove it.

 

[bluemorning]

ThE Avian vet just called...big relief....she said as long as he's not bothering it to leave it alone but if he starts to dig at it and it starts bleeding to stop the bleeding and bring him in.(No avian vets here).But 1 1/2 hr drive to see her is nothing where Trip our grey is concerned.She said she would probably have to give him a mild sedative to calm him since it's so deep.But all in all he seems fine right now,back to himself and talking up a storm.But I'm keeping him in his cage for now (he's not happy about that) and toys in his way are moved. It was so hard last night with him screaming in pain.Thanks everyone for your concern! Sure makes a person feel better.

 

[suncoast]

Sounds sensible and I'm glad she would give him a bit of a sedative, I think a little bit would go along way in making the procedure less traumatic. It would be like some doc trying to dig out a ingrown fingernail or worse.

Ginger

 

[Birdiemarie]

Glad to hear you may not have to to anything about it an let it grow out if he leaves it alone.