Cockatiel always breaking blood feathers!??? Need Help Quick!?

Question

My 10 month old cockatiel is ALWAYS breaking blood feathers. I mean like every other day. When he breaks one it bleeds really bad and is usually one of the quill feathers that has allot of blood in it. I have to use flour every time because it scares me and he usually doesn't clot that quick. I have another cockatiel that flutters to the ground waaayyy more than him and takes way harder hits to the ground with her feathers and I have never seen a drop of blood from her. What would cause him to have such unhealthy feathers? Inbreeding? A disease? I would take him to an avian vet but the closest one is like 100 miles away. If this continues I will take him but wanted to see what would be causing this. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks.

Answer 1

Blood feather's are new feathers growing in that are full of blood. As they grow out the blood leaves and you will see a white quil with the new fully grown out feather.

Birds can fall and break a blood feather and they can chew the feather and cause it to bleed.

You didn't state so I will assume you mean wing feathers that are bleeding.

Birds can catch their flights/wing feathers - the longest of, between cage bars and break them also. Make sure your cage is big enough for two flying Tiels.

* Use Corn Starch instead of flour for bleeding feather's and/or wounds that are not deep. If acouple times of adding corn starch doesn't stop the bleeding, use a small piece of sterial gaze, or your finger if need be, and carefully apply some pressure right on the bleeding spot and hold it afew seconds. * Birds bones are full of air only, unlike other creatures, so be careful not to push hard or you could break a bone. Pressure should be applied on the skin.

Your birds sound stressed and panic fly or jump, thus getting injured. You need to find out what is scaring them and correct it ASAP.

Do you come up on the cage without talking so they know you are coming, do you talk to loud and sudden, are they caged in the walk way of other's in the home, if so move them back out of traffic, back of cage to a wall is best,what is scaring your birds enough to make them want to take flight? Find out. Stress kills birds. Read and learn all you can about birds - http://www.birdchannel.com/

Type in Cockaiel here then read- http://www.birdnsways.com/

Answer 2

I would call the vet maybe he can help you out over the phone.