http://www.featherforum.com/?q=node/view/822
One only has to take 5 minutes and two identical flight feathers with no glue to see that this procedure simple doesn’t work fore several reasons on several levels. I emailed Edmund about four years ago when I first ran across his post asking some questions about what he said but I never got a reply.
The fact is this is not only a structurally unsound weak joint but what Edmund forgot when he said “The new feather will inevitably stick out a bit further than the original, and so the end can be trimmed to correct length.” This is the least of the problem. Not only is a feathered camber changed which screws up the air foil profile but a feather gradually spiraled through the length. This is what gives it the proper angle of attack. The spiraled is created by the spine of the feather continuously twisting through the length. Since the hollow oval of the shaft is also is twisted, if the feather is now longer as it comes out of the bird the feather will be more twisted because you’re fitting one oval inside another and you can’t take the twist out to correct the problem. The feather will not lock and lay with the other feathers and it dose more harm than good in that it will help with lift but hinder all other aspects of flight. With respect to Edmund I can only assume he found this procedure worked with some raptor feathers but it certainly won’t work with macaw feathers. I guess its time I stopped complaining and write up a procedure that will work.

On another note,
Nate,
I would like to hear what your Vet said about removing primary feathers and if she said its ok I’d like to know what avian veterinary text describes the procedure.
I’m sure that sometimes these feathers must be removing to repair a broken wing however I bring this to your attention.

Ref. a book all avian vets will have and be intimately familiar with. (Avian Medicine Principles and Applications Ritchie, Harrison and Harrison page 1084 second paragraph),
“It is a challenge to create a sterile field of the wing because of large flight feathers, WHICH SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.”

Mike Bross

Thanks Mike! I still haven't talked to my vet yet, but I'll post when I do. If I do. I leaning pretty heavily toward just waiting, as it sounds like the least traumatic option.

Nate Waddoups
Redmond WA USA

Nate, shouldn't Phoebe be starting a molt soon? Isn't it usually late summer or early fall for the major molt?

Nikki

I think she mostly molts in June, actually. :-( However I've heard that flight feathers molt pretty much year-round.

Nate Waddoups
Redmond WA USA