Blood Bath....Sorta

[FenDruadin]

Ha ha! Yes, they're always thinking of some new way to torment us, aren't they?

Blood feather is another name for a pin feather, the long straight shaft that comes in first when new feathers are coming in. During its growth stage, it is full of blood that nourishes the growth process. Because it's made of stiff keratin (I think?) and not flexible skin, if you break a large blood feather, the blood can't clot properly. As a result, an unattended blood feather can bleed and bleed until the bird bleeds to death (sometimes). It's possible you had a small blood feather break, and that it either got plucked out (don't know if they'll do that themselves or not) or, because it was small, it managed to clot and stop bleeding.

The other explanations make sense too.

Just glad they're all okay!

 

[Broodica]

Thanks for the explanation....I used to have a parrot that loved to sit on my chest while I picked the keratin off his pin feathers when they were ready. If one wasn't ready yet, I'd get a major squawk. Never any blood tho. Thanks again.....Don't think I'll be trying that on the ducklings or the chicks!

 

[FenDruadin]

I had a little bird--a conure--who liked to have the keratin picked off his pin feathers too. LOL

I don't think you'll do them any harm if you're careful. The real damage happens if you break one in half, so that there's a wide-open gaping passage for the blood to come out through. And if you're there when it happens, it's simple to fix--you just pluck the feather out. It's a moment's sharp pinch, and then it's all over and the blood flow stops. You can also stop it with styptic powder, but the plucking is quick, effective, and requires no special materials.

Anyway, you're not likely to break one in half just picking at the keratin. It probably feels good to them the way peeling sunburnt skin off feels good to us.

 

[Birdcrazy]

Oh so a blood feather? Ducklings are pretty clumsy and full of energy, so it makes sense a feather could of been pulled out slightly or something.
Hope the little duck is ok.

I currently have two ducklings that are spoilt rotten, too!

Good luck with yours