Hey guys, it's me again with a question for my lovebird who is in distress. Remove everything from the cage, including toys and food and water dishes. Once your bird is restrained, locate the broken blood feather. Sunlight causes feathers to fade, and storing them in high humidity can lead to mold growth and decomposition. While feather-picking can be a normal grooming behavior or a reaction to a broken blood feather, it can also be a cause for alarm. Pulling a blood feather the wrong way can damage the skin tissue its embedded in and even the surrounding ligaments and bones. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. However, you need to make sure that you know how to respond when it happens. Last Updated: September 16, 2021 First, gently brush the feather with a soft bristled brush. I hope there's a way to clean her off as I know she would feel much better! This article has been viewed 38,822 times. A parrots body is pretty good about quickly ridding itself of feathers that become damaged. Find the Best Way to Clean Oil off Bird Feathers | response.restoration Prominent avian vets are no longer encouraging us to pull out a bleeding blood feather as the first line of defense. Most birds preen their feathers regularly to keep them clean and in good condition. Keep an eye out for weakness, which is a sign of excessive blood loss. https://hari.ca/first-aid-removing-broken-blood-feathers/, http://www.cockatielcottage.net/feathers.html. A garment steamer is more suitable if you are working with many feathers. If the bleeding has slowed down to a trickle or stopped all together, grab your clean bird hospital cage and line the bottom with a clean, soft towel. % of people told us that this article helped them. Please note that electrolytes don't take the place of emergency veterinary care. How To Clean Feathers: Step-By-Step First, get rid of the mites and kill the germs in the feathers. Don't be afraid to pull! This will kill any bacteria or fungi that may be present on the feathers. You can also use a cotton swab or your fingers to lightly remove any dirt or debris. You're imitating what happens when a bird lands on an oil slick on the ocean. Place your feathers in a ziplock bag and put it in the freezer. In 95% of these cases, the affected feather will continue to grow normally and the follicle will remain intact and produce healthy feathers in the future. The higher the concentration of peroxide and alcohol, the better. About Birds carries many species of birds and offers grooming and boarding services as well as bird care products. Use a blow dryer on its lowest setting to dry them completely or allow them to air dry. 2 Effective Methods, How to Preserve a Dead Bird? Force-feeding may be necessary if your bird is very weak. A birds blood feather will heal on its own once the bleeding has stopped, but you need to make sure that you help the feather clot. Tips to keep mosquitoes out of bird bath. Put the container in a humidity-free area that doesnt receive any sunlight. Lay them out flat on paper towels to dry. How To Remove Feathers From A Dead Bird Theblogy.com Rinse by swishing in clean water. You can also hold it open with the thumb of your non-dominant hand, but this is more difficult. So, do what you can to minimize blood loss calmly and quickly. Remove it after about 1 minute and the bleeding should stop. JavaScript is disabled. This doesnt mean it's cold, but is a natural reaction to generate body heat that helps dry feathers. Next, hold the feather under running water and let the water rinse away any remaining dirt. As long as you provide support to help stop the bleeding, a broken blood feather will typically heal independently. While the feather would not look attractive, it will all fall out during the next molting of your bird. She's been a radio DJ for 10+ years and currently DJs a biweekly music program on the award-winning internet radio station DKFM. Avoid packing your coagulant into the hair follicle. Use lukewarm to room temperature water for your birds bath to keep it from chilling. This can help it dry. In order to fly, bird's have to be lightweight, so they have smaller volumes of blood in their body. Feathers must be completely dry before storing them away! You could put some flea powder in the container instead of cedar, too. If your bird continues to bleed, contact an emergency veterinarian and bring them to a clinic immediately. P plumsmum2005 New member Nov 18, 2015 5,330 93 England, UK Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. Research source Fold the bag closed and shake the contents for 30 seconds. Although this is a simple procedure, seek help from a veterinarian if you are in any way uncomfortable. Then, place the feathers flat on a paper towel. Soak feathers in alcohol and peroxide for 30 minutes to sterilize them. Dont hold the feather right up to the blow dryers stream. ", "Learning about how to use a mild soap and gently bathe the bird was helpful. GetMiracle Care Kwik Stop Styptic Solution Gel Swabs to apply an appropriate amount of clotting agent directly to the source of the bleeding. Thayerbirding is supported by its audience. 3 After you have plucked the blood feather, place a pinch of cornstarch on the affected area to help aid clotting, and use a piece of sterile gauze to apply pressure to the feather follicle until the bleeding has stopped. When you pull the feather out, you end up ripping out a bunch of skin tissue and potentially causing damage to ligaments and bones, too. ", I have sold my African grey feathers on eBay, but not the turkey feathers, which are so beautiful, but many were really dirty! Thanks for the info. Its important to note that its illegal to collect feathers from wild birds in many countries unless you have a permit. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Rinse your bird thoroughly with a gently mist or spray of water. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Simple Ways to Preserve Feathers for Crafts: 8 Steps - WikiHow They will generally eat anything they can get their hands on, mainly Thayerbirding.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This article has been viewed 143,094 times. If this does not stop the bleeding, try applying cornstarch, baking powder, or all-purpose flour to the area, then apply pressure with more gauze for another 10 minutes. No. Once the bleed has clotted, the healing can begin. Greetings from Bella K. Swan, the loving mother of all Birds. Step-by-step to Clean Bird Feathers What to prepare Step 1: Eliminate mites and parasites Step 2: Sanitize the feathers Step 3: Cleanse and dry Step 4: Fluff to restore its looks Step 5: Preserve and store Conclusion Step-by-step to Clean Bird Feathers Feathers make a good ornament or jewelry. Furthermore, you also can refer more to other topics of taking care birds: Hi, I'm Clinton. Never trim flight feathers before new feathers grow in. Congratulations! Leave this delicate and painful medical procedure to an experienced avian vet if at all possible. Cover the carrier with a towel on at least 3 sides to minimize visual stimuli. Put the feathers away in an airtight container till you want to use them. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. By gently misting and washing your pet bird, you can clean it. Approved. With a soft cloth, gently remove the loosened gunk. By using our site, you agree to our, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d0\/Pull-a-Blood-Feather-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Pull-a-Blood-Feather-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d0\/Pull-a-Blood-Feather-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid281410-v4-728px-Pull-a-Blood-Feather-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"