Should I help my scissor / cross beak preen ?

[Nikkijo]

I’m not sure if I’m posting in right place. I noticed my little Silkie still has a lot of pin feathers with that white covering still partially on them. She has an extremely crooked beak , so she can’t preen herself. Her sister doesn’t have any feathers still like this. Their 8months old. I want her to be warm & fluffy . Should I help her preen & get the rest off? Thanks

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’m not sure if I’m posting in right place. I noticed my little Silkie still has a lot of pin feathers with that white covering still partially on them. She has an extremely crooked beak , so she can’t preen herself. Her sister doesn’t have any feathers still like this. Their 8months old. I want her to be warm & fluffy . Should I help her preen & get the rest off? Thanks

Yes, I would help her

 

[Nikkijo]

Thank you

 

[EggWalrus]

Yes, I would help her

IF you decide to, just make sure to use a good strong mouth wash afterwards. And I wouldn't give them the "full treatment" like they give themselves unless you have a cast iron stomach. The oils they preen with from down there at their tail can be mighty strong tasting! It might be better to let her try it herself, Cross beak or not.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

IF you decide to, just make sure to use a good strong mouth wash afterwards. And I wouldn't give them the "full treatment" like they give themselves unless you have a cast iron stomach. The oils they preen with from down there at their tail can be mighty strong tasting! It might be better to let her try it herself, Cross beak or not.

E.W.!!!! or should I say EW(wwwwww) LOL
@Nikkijo just run your fingers through the feathers to help the sheaths come loose.
It's not uncommon for people to help their birds out, especially around the head and neck. Just don't pull too sharply, not all the sheaths may be ready to come off.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I can not caution too much about damaging pen or blood feathers. Chickens have actually bled to death after getting a major pen or blood feather broken. The cure for this is to pull the damaged pen feather out with a pair of pliers.

Every feather on a chickens body is tied directly into that chickens blood system. Only after the feather matures does the blood supply dry up and the external sheath fall away as chicken dandruff.

 

[Nikkijo]

I just saw these messages . LOL eeewww !!!! LOL I was never planning on touching her oil gland.

 

[EggWalrus]

I just saw these messages . LOL eeewww !!!! LOL I was never planning on touching her oil gland.

Well... that's what preening is.
They get their preening oil on their beak and rub it onto their feathers. It's like hair conditioner for us. It keeps them somewhat waterproof and keeps their feathers in good condition.
In days of old, chicken processing plants would remove the tails (along with preen glands) because the tasted awful. They would sell the tails, feathers and other by-products to animal feed mills for dirt cheap. Then they realized they could leave it on the carcass and sell those billions of tails for the same cost as chicken instead of scraps.
But you're right...
EEEWWWWW!