Schnitzel has just managed to get the ends of his long tail feathers caught. When he is scared he drops right to the bottom corner of the cage. I went to partially cover his cage to keep him warm (it's a cold Canberra winter) and he managed to wedge his two long tail feathers into where the bars of the cage meets the plastic bottom. He was not getting them out himself, only pulling away without any luck. I slowly put my hand into the cage and gently held his body to stop him from moving forward to quickly. But he is still terrified of my hand and he bit hard and freaked out. He pulled the feathers clean out. Are these likely to be blood feathers? He didn't make a sound and is now just sitting still on the bottom perch. He will never let me near him to look at them but if this is likely to be serious I am going to have to. I just don't want to stress him out even more. Unfortunately, he is sitting too low in the cage for me to see if he is bleeding... What should I do?!okay, he just moved higher up the cage. There is no blood anywhere on him and the tips of the pulled feathers are clear...okay, he just moved higher up and I can't see any blood anywhere on him and the pulled feathers are both clear. Hope this helps. Maybe I'm just being over protective but I've had two budgies die in the last 4 months and I don't want to lose him as well, he's the only one left.

Edited August 18, 200915 yr by featherybird

He should be fine.

 

If they came out cleanly, they will regrow with no problems.

 

Keep an eye on him. He might be a bit stressed, so watch him.

He should be just fine. His feathers will be fully grown back in about 8 weeks

Thanks guys! I think I am just being over protective but I have lost two budgies in the last 4 months and I really don't want to lose Schnitzel, he's the last one! He's perked up a bit already- relief!

Thanks guys! I think I am just being over protective but I have lost two budgies in the last 4 months and I really don't want to lose Schnitzel, he's the last one! He's perked up a bit already- relief!

 

 

I know just how you feel! I lost a budgie a couple of weeks ago, and now I am paranoid about the rest of them. Any little sign of fluffed feathers, and I am hanging the warming light onto their cage!

Agree with above. If they were blood feathers you would know about it! Blood feathers look like a feather shaft filled with blood, they don't have a vane (flat sail bit) yet. They are short, very soft and usually well hidden. If they are bent they bleed everywhere and don't stop until you pull them out, much the same way that he has pulled his mature tail feathers out.

 

He will be fine. A bit sore perhaps, and he will look a little shorter than usual, but they will grow back eventually

Edited August 18, 200915 yr by Chrysocome

He will be fine. A bit sore perhaps, and he will look a little shorter than usual, but they will grow back eventually

 

Thanks for the help guys and he does look very funny being a bit shorter! I think he looks a bit fatter as a consequence...