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Weird skin over feathers?????

post #1 of 10
12/10/11 at 9:20am
Thread Starter 

My bird has these odd feathers on the back of her head and neck, they have a skin over them. I can get it of but I'm afraid that i'll pull her feathers out and she cant reach them to get them. Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone know how to fix it?

1 Americana, 1 Colombian Rock cross, 1 Cochin, 2 Silkies, 2 Frizzles, 2 Buckeyes 2 Japanese bantams (oh and 1 parolette, 1 dog, 2-3 cats, 3 horses)
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1 Americana, 1 Colombian Rock cross, 1 Cochin, 2 Silkies, 2 Frizzles, 2 Buckeyes 2 Japanese bantams (oh and 1 parolette, 1 dog, 2-3 cats, 3 horses)
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post #2 of 10
12/10/11 at 9:22am

It's normal.  The reason you see it on the head and neck it because she cannot reach those areas to preen and remove the "skins" from the feathers herself.  Feel free to remove them.

The pack:
1 Rhode Island Red, 1 Easter Egger, 1 Cochin, 1 Buff Orpington, 1 Black Australorp, 1 Plymouth Barred Rock
3 rescued pit bull mutts
2 humans
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The pack:
1 Rhode Island Red, 1 Easter Egger, 1 Cochin, 1 Buff Orpington, 1 Black Australorp, 1 Plymouth Barred Rock
3 rescued pit bull mutts
2 humans
Reply
post #3 of 10
12/10/11 at 9:25am

It's not exactly skin, it's the protective covering that new feathers have, keeps them from getting damaged while they grow. She will pull it off when she preens if she can reach it, but since it's on the back of her head, she can't. You can pull it off if you want. It won't pull her feathers out (unless you pull the feather as well as the "skin"), and it won't hurt your girl. smile

~Heather

 

"Music is what makes me dream... It's what makes me desire something..."

 

~Her Passion for Poultry~    ~Larksong Photography~

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~Heather

 

"Music is what makes me dream... It's what makes me desire something..."

 

~Her Passion for Poultry~    ~Larksong Photography~

Reply
post #4 of 10
12/10/11 at 9:25am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chick Norris 

It's normal.  The reason you see it on the head and neck it because she cannot reach those areas to preen and remove the "skins" from the feathers herself.  Feel free to remove them.


that is the problem, its hard to do because she bites and when ever i try she pulls away and pulls feathers out

1 Americana, 1 Colombian Rock cross, 1 Cochin, 2 Silkies, 2 Frizzles, 2 Buckeyes 2 Japanese bantams (oh and 1 parolette, 1 dog, 2-3 cats, 3 horses)
Reply
1 Americana, 1 Colombian Rock cross, 1 Cochin, 2 Silkies, 2 Frizzles, 2 Buckeyes 2 Japanese bantams (oh and 1 parolette, 1 dog, 2-3 cats, 3 horses)
Reply
post #5 of 10
12/10/11 at 9:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pek 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chick Norris 

It's normal.  The reason you see it on the head and neck it because she cannot reach those areas to preen and remove the "skins" from the feathers herself.  Feel free to remove them.


that is the problem, its hard to do because she bites and when ever i try she pulls away and pulls feathers out


Just wait a little longer.  They really shouldn't take much effort to remove.  On our chickens there was just a little remnant left on the feather tips which came off with next to no effort.  Also try doing it at night when she's more docile.

The pack:
1 Rhode Island Red, 1 Easter Egger, 1 Cochin, 1 Buff Orpington, 1 Black Australorp, 1 Plymouth Barred Rock
3 rescued pit bull mutts
2 humans
Reply
The pack:
1 Rhode Island Red, 1 Easter Egger, 1 Cochin, 1 Buff Orpington, 1 Black Australorp, 1 Plymouth Barred Rock
3 rescued pit bull mutts
2 humans
Reply
post #6 of 10
12/10/11 at 9:34am

Leave it alone. The feather shafts will disintegrate and come off by themselves.

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post #7 of 10
12/10/11 at 9:35am

Just leave it alone. It will slowly come off on its own as she goes about her business. I never pick anything off my birds and they all turn out fine lol

Buff Orpingtons, Wheaten Ameraucanas. Bantam Lav. Ameraucanas, Easter Eggers, Bantam Cochins. LF Cochins
Muscovys, Brown Chinese Geese,Toulouse, Pekins, Khaki Campbells and rabbits...

Whats not to love about pets you can eat?
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Buff Orpingtons, Wheaten Ameraucanas. Bantam Lav. Ameraucanas, Easter Eggers, Bantam Cochins. LF Cochins
Muscovys, Brown Chinese Geese,Toulouse, Pekins, Khaki Campbells and rabbits...

Whats not to love about pets you can eat?
Reply
post #8 of 10
12/10/11 at 10:40am
Thread Starter 

all right, thanks everyone!

1 Americana, 1 Colombian Rock cross, 1 Cochin, 2 Silkies, 2 Frizzles, 2 Buckeyes 2 Japanese bantams (oh and 1 parolette, 1 dog, 2-3 cats, 3 horses)
Reply
1 Americana, 1 Colombian Rock cross, 1 Cochin, 2 Silkies, 2 Frizzles, 2 Buckeyes 2 Japanese bantams (oh and 1 parolette, 1 dog, 2-3 cats, 3 horses)
Reply
post #9 of 10
1/5/12 at 2:59pm

Ha Ha when my mother visits, she looks at the birds when they have feathers like this, and says, "Quintin the birds have those worms on their head again."

In the beginning there was nothing. God said, Let there be light! And there was light. There was still nothing, but you could see it a whole lot better. Ellen DeGeneres   
also//////// Y'all also need to check out my homemade cooler incubator, my homemade fridge-a-bator, and my cabinet incubator on my BYC page.

 

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/homemade-cabinet-incubator

http://www.backya...

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In the beginning there was nothing. God said, Let there be light! And there was light. There was still nothing, but you could see it a whole lot better. Ellen DeGeneres   
also//////// Y'all also need to check out my homemade cooler incubator, my homemade fridge-a-bator, and my cabinet incubator on my BYC page.

 

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/homemade-cabinet-incubator

http://www.backya...

Reply
post #10 of 10
1/12/12 at 3:21am

My budgies and tiel look like right hobo scruffs when that happens to them.

I mist them with some water to encourage them to groom and they rub their heads on the branches and groom each other.

 

Also when they are dry they look and smell better!

I have a photo of them being misted from a spray bottle:

025.JPG

They then rub their heads on the bars and help each other. 

Nice and easy!

I have:

1 cockatiel

2 budgerigars

1 hen

1 duck

& Lots of Love

Miss You Tubsy Bub aka 'little one' <3

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I have:

1 cockatiel

2 budgerigars

1 hen

1 duck

& Lots of Love

Miss You Tubsy Bub aka 'little one' <3

Reply
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