Need more bird advice from the experts.......

[Darth_Kitten]

Got to examining my bird's wing this afternoon. Some of her feathers look like quills with just some feather left on it (it looks like these were cut the last time her feathers were trimmed in August) One looks like like a quill, no feather on it (do they really cut so much off during a trim?)

Had the crisis yesterday with the blood and the feather that came out. Gee, when I see the vet in a couple of days, should I mention they should maybe take a closer look at this wing? Will these "quills" have to be pulled? Or will they come out eventually? These wouldn't be those nasty blood feathers? (but if they were in wouldn't there still be some bleeding?

I don't know what to think. Still confused and a little concerned. I'm taking Murphee to the vet's in a few days' anyhow, to be boarded and she usually gets her wings done. :)

[AlienGirl]

1. The quills

Are the quills the stumps of the feathers that were trimmed? If so, they're OK as long as they aren't scratching her side when she moves. They don't need to be pulled; they'll fall out at the next molt and she'll grow new feathers there.

On the other hand, if the quills have closed ends and the bottoms up to about two-thirds of the feather are reddish, they're blood feathers (which are just young feathers coming in). If they were cut they would bleed, but they will be able to be trimmed after they've grown all the way in.

Tucker

[Darth_Kitten]

2. This particular quill I'm concerned about

is white.

the other quills have what looks like the remains of cut feathers.