by Maggie- » Sun Aug 03, 2008 12:10 am
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-