Weird skin over feathers?????

[pek]

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?

 

[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.

 

[Lothiriel]

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.

 

[pek]

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

 

[Chick Norris]

Quote:
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.

 

[elmo]

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

 

[bufforp89]

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

 

[pek]

all right, thanks everyone!

 

[quintinp]

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."

 

[Englishjodes]

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:

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

Nice and easy!