Can I brush/pick tiel dander?

[Cockatango]

By this I mean the dander/dandruff that forms as a protective barrier when the feather grows. When this comes loose, is it okay to brush/pick this off? I'm slightly worried doing this will make the feathers weaker.

 

[sunnysmom]

The pin feathers? Yes it's okay to do it if your bird lets you and they're not blood feathers. Birds naturally preen each other and that's what they do. But some birds aren't crazy about letting a human do it. My tiel liked me doing it though.

 

[Tiel Feathers]

Some of my birds love it when I preen their pin feathers. I enjoy doing it too...it gets kind of meditative for both of us lol!

 

[Tara81]

The stealth is ready to be preened when it is not near the skin no more. Some birds will make a squeal if you try to remove it too soon to warn you. Also some will squeal if they don't like it.

 

[Lady Jane]

You must wait until the sheath of the pin feather is completely dry then it will flake off. The pin feathers are sensitive to touch otherwise and uncomfortable to the bird if you touch them too soon. They will let you know. Showers help them at times like these. The feathers will not be weaker when you preen correctly.