Posted by meghan_lee@msn.com on Tue, 05/27/2008 - 18:20 :: Cockatiels
Hi I am the owner of an almost 3 year old Light Grey female teil. I have had her since she was only a few months old. I am concerned because within the last year "Taya" has been getting these kind of plastic looking casings on her feathers. These casing are mostly around her head on the long feathers (not sure what they are called) on the top of her head. I try and pull them off but it's hard to get all of them. Is this normal or is there something wrong with her??



Meghan
Posted by karen on Wed, 05/28/2008 - 06:13.
It's perfectly normal. After a molt, the new feathers grow in enclosed in a feather sheath to protect them. The reaon you're only seeing them on her head is she can preen the feather sheath off herself everywhere else. Scratching her head or gently pulling them off if they come easily is good.

Karen
Chico (conure) and Pippin (budgie)
WI
Posted by meghan_lee@msn.com on Fri, 05/30/2008 - 23:21.
Ok thank you very much!! I wasn't quite sure and everywhere I went on the internet couldn't tell me anything! I will continune what I am doing with a sure mind now!!

Meghan
Taya (Teil)
Posted by Zazoosworld on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 18:43.
You can pinch them between your finger nails to break them up then gently rub and pick them to get them off. Most of them will eventually come off on there own but they can be an annoyance to the birds and in the wild they would preen eachother to remove them. By doing this it will also help you bond with your bird but don't be surprised if your birds starts to preen your hair as well. The best way to see how to remove them is to wach your bird work at the ones he can rach then do the same thing. You will see these around the same time each year as the birds moults and grows new feathers. Just be sure not to pull to hard on the feathers because you could accidently pull the whole feather out.