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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 11:15

	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.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
690.1FIRST-AID KITGRANPA::KSWARTZFri May 15 1992 10:076
    SPEAKING OF BLOOD FEATHERS. I NEED TO PUT TOGETHER A BIRD FIRST- AID
    KIT.
    ANY SUGGESTIONS?
    
    KAREN & BOGART
690.2my kitROYALT::PULSIFERUNHAMPERED BY FACTS AND INFORMATIONFri May 15 1992 10:399
    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
690.3I love it!AVIAN::KIRSCHBAUMEvery Tank Should Have It's MorayMon May 18 1992 14:4811
	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
690.4What's a Blood Feather?SELL3::MCETTRICKTue Jun 02 1992 16:435
    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
690.5live feather=blood featherROYALT::PULSIFERUNHAMPERED BY FACTS AND INFORMATIONWed Jun 03 1992 09:1011
    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
690.6Should read up on your birdBUSY::TBUTLERWed Jun 03 1992 09:157
    	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
690.7night lightsRHETT::RROGERSWed Jun 03 1992 16:239
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