New feather stalks

[Solomon's_Mama]

Hi Maggie

Solomon has a TON of new feathers growing in (especially on his neck area) and he's so nippy because he's so uncomfortable. I'm trying to preen his neck for him but more often than not I tend to pull the entire feather out rather than just the keratin stalk off Is there any type of spray that helps alleviate this...softens up the stalk so that it will melt off a little easier??? I've been soaking him in the shower daily which is helping.

Hope all is well with you!!

Samantha & Solomon

[Maggie-]

Hi Samantha & Solomon!

Do not mess with his quills until they have been there long enough to be a little flexible, if you know what I mean. Then with your fingertips, only pinch the very end that is kind of whitish. If you try to mess with the quills when they are extremely stiff and inflexible, it will be painful for Solomon. By breaking them at the very end, you have helped the quill begin to open... then each time you preen him, pinch the very end a little bit more, until the sheath is eventually totally off. You don't have to try to remove the entire sheath at the first sitting.

I learned this trick with Merle when she was a baby. Hoping it helps!

Blessings,
maggie-

[Solomon's_Mama]

THANKS-- I am getting better at it. Plus, my fingernails have grown a bit--that really helps You look at his skin when he's soaking wet and he has TONS of feathers preparing to come through the skin so he is just a mess. I sat for about an hour last night and just rubbed his head where there is no new growth yet. Anyway--thanks for the info.

Samantha and Solomon

[Maggie-]

You are so welcome! I remember sitting for hours helping Merlin as a baby. She certainly was happier once I learned when to to pick the tips of the quills for her, instead of doing it so early. They must really hurt under the skin.

Maggie-

[NancyJBritting]

I just read these posts.........and wonder at what age this huge quantity of new feather growth starts happening?? You mentioned "when Merle was a baby" and I don't know how old Solomon was when this was posted. Baxter is 5 mo. now......do I have this to look forward to? It sounds difficult to do with such tiny feathers as on the neck area, but I will certainly try to do it gently and carefully when the time comes.

Besides our two greys, Baxter and Bonnie, we have a hyacinth macaw, Zeus. We preen him all the time and he loves it, but even his neck and head feathers are large enough to be easy to pinch just the tip without hurting him. It will be a big change to work on Baxter's tiny feathers....

Nancy

[merlin]

Hey Nancy,

Molting will start at 12 months or younger. You don't need to do it on the tiny, tiny feathers but the bigger ones that have sheaths. And the ones they cannot do themselves, such as the head.

You already have experience from your macaw. All you need is to just prick the very tips and the rest of the sheath will work out. If they are STIFF and not ready, do not touch yet because they are connected to nerves and it hurts. You'll know you when they are softer and a little more moveable.
Maggie-