So I've heard lots about blood feathers and them breaking, but I've never seen one up until now, probably because my two previous budgies were dark coloured birds so they probably had them at some point but I just never noticed. Holly however, being whiter than white (i.e. albino ) has changed all that. The feather is on his wing, it appears to be at the very base of the first long flights (the ones that grow the longest). Should I be extra careful with him while I can see this feather? I've just started letting him out and he's still getting used to flying around the room and I'm worried he'll knock something and break that feather. How long do feathers normally spend in that kind of active growing phase too?

 

Hope someone can put my mind at rest and tell me not to worry. After poor Smudge I'm so worried I'm going to lose another baby too soon.

As long as there are fully formed feathers on the side of that first one, they should cushion any knocks. Blood feathers are more resilient than they look, but as long as you can see the sheath covering the feather, it can bleed if broken. As long as he can fly well, you probably don't have anything to worry about. I don't know exactly how long they take to grow in, as I don't pay any attention to that with my birds. I have never had one break a blood feather. I would guess about 10 days to 2 weeks?