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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:	Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:	INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:	VIDEO::PULSIFER

Created:	Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:	Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	942
Total number of notes:	6016

690.0. "Blood Feathers" by AVIAN::KIRSCHBAUM (Every Tank Should Have It's Moray) Thu May 14 1992 14:15

	Well, it has been a very busy time, since I have
been traveling between Atlanta (DECUS) and Boston (DECWORLD)
But, I got a call last week in Atlanta from my son, who was
bird and fish and cat sitting, that my Macaw had broken
a blood feather....and had pulled it out himself!

	Andy checked out the bird, and except for blood on
himself, and the fact that he was shaking considerably, he
seemed alright.

	As soon as I returned to Boston, I immediately
brought Avalon in to see our vet.  He said that pulling out
a blood feather is roughly equivalent to giving yourself
stiches, without any anestesia....but it did work.

	The Vet checked the feather, and it was (or would
have been) normal...just an accident.

	Well, this is one week later, and bird and friends
seem ok, just a little bit shook!

-dick

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
690.1	FIRST-AID KIT	GRANPA::KSWARTZ		`Fri May 15 1992 13:07`	6
	SPEAKING OF BLOOD FEATHERS. I NEED TO PUT TOGETHER A BIRD FIRST- AID KIT. ANY SUGGESTIONS? KAREN & BOGART
690.2	my kit	ROYALT::PULSIFER	UNHAMPERED BY FACTS AND INFORMATION	`Fri May 15 1992 13:39`	9
	First Aid Kit: Cornstarch to pack wounds with Needle nose pliers to pull blood feather roll of Gauss to restrain bird with Tranquilizer of choice to calm owner telphone number of Avian Vet extra set of keys to Auto telephone numbers of other sympathetic bird owners
690.3	I love it!	AVIAN::KIRSCHBAUM	Every Tank Should Have It's Moray	`Mon May 18 1992 17:48`	11
	Actually if I have to restrain Av, I usually use a towel. Usually if there is an emergency, I just get bit! I have septic powder and Q-tips and the Vet is only 1/2 mile away! -dick
690.4	What's a Blood Feather?	SELL3::MCETTRICK		`Tue Jun 02 1992 19:43`	5
	Being a new bird owner of a Cockatiel...what the heck is a "blood feather"? Is it something you look for/worry about? Being new at this, I seem to worry about everything! Wendy
690.5	live feather=blood feather	ROYALT::PULSIFER	UNHAMPERED BY FACTS AND INFORMATION	`Wed Jun 03 1992 12:10`	11
	mature feather are dead like finger nails and hair. Growing Feather are still alive and are connected to a blood vessel, so they will bleed when removed. If a blood feater is pulled out, you should apply pressure and/or use a coagulant like corn starch to stop the bleeding as birds have very little blood and can quickly bleed to death. If the blood feather breaks off with part of the feather remaining it acts like a straw, allowing the blood to flow very freely. This broken feather needs to be removed(needle-nose pliers) and then treated as if the feather was pulled out as mentioned previously. Doug
690.6	Should read up on your bird	BUSY::TBUTLER		`Wed Jun 03 1992 12:15`	7
	For any new Tiel owners, I would suggest running out to your nearest pet center and purchasing one of the many different books on caring for your bird. My Wife and I bought one with our bird and it has been helpful in enabling us to understand our little guy better both physically and mentaly. Tom
690.7	night lights	RHETT::RROGERS		`Wed Jun 03 1992 19:23`	9
	Hi Wendy, Another good idea is to pick up a night light or make sure the tiel is not left in total darkness at night. Sometimes they freak out in the dark, and in their thrashing around they may break blood feathers. Enjoy your new cockatiel! Roseanne