My cockatiel's tail feathers are broken or stuck. What should I do?

Thanks for reaching out about Rio and including a photo. Nutritional deficiencies, bacterial infections of the feather follicle, some viral diseases, are all possibilities (among others). With how "pinched" to tip of the feather appears, concerns over Psittacine Beak & Feather Disease, should be ruled out. A veterinary visit is recommended for testing and a nutritional consult. Feather growth requires a substantial protein expenditure so plant based proteins (beans, sprouted seeds, legumes) should be a component of the diet. Good luck.

It's possible the feather is broken -- if he'll let you check it out, you'll be able to see a break or bend in it. However if the feathers seems OK, Dino may pluck it himself when a new one is ready to grow in. If the feather is bleeding at all, you will need to have it removed to prevent continued bleeding. If it seems very painful or bothersome, or there is any visible wound around it, having a vet take a look is best.

Thanks for your question about Rio. It is normal for birds’ feathers to fall out at regular intervals. This process is referred to as molting. As feathers get older, they lose some of their function so they are replaced by new ones. In most species, this occurs one to two times per year. Where things become concerning is when a bird is losing their feathers between molting times. When this happens, it can be due to illness or to behavioral problems. I hope that helps to answer your question, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for reaching out about Chloe. This is most likely a broken blood feather, possibly from night fright. This situation should be thought of like use having a splinter. We pick at at a splinter until painful, then stop and wait, try again. Birds do the same thing with broken blood feathers. If not actively bleeding, leave alone and let Chloe work it out. If starts bleeding, a veterinarian is recommended. Good luck.

The rest of the shaft should be removed to allow a new feather to grow in. Removal will also prevent bleeding if it gets knocked again. Have your veterinarian or an experienced avian vet remove it if you have no experience doing this. Any ointment you apply will likely be removed, and possibly ingested, by Madeline during preening so this is not recommended. A balanced diet and regular bathing or misting with warm water will promote healthy skin and plumage. An exam with your veterinarian to diagnose any infection would be recommended.

I wouldn't worry too much about this. Once the blood feather is removed, the body naturally seals off the area and cuts off the blood supply. He would have to do some severe damage to himself in order for it to bleed as much as it did. There's little chance that a bird would cause this much harm to itself, so I would not worry about it. These pulled blood feathers start to look normal after a week or so. If there are further concerns, then I'd recommend taking him to a vet for a consult. I hope that helps and all is well with Paco.

Thanks for reaching out about your cockatiel. Fragile feathers could be an indication of a poor diet but also some other more serious diseases. If he is that weak, a veterinarian should be visited. Providing heat support in the 85-90 degrees could help stimulate the immune system but does not replace a veterinary visit. Good luck.