What are pin feathers?

Question

I mean I know they're on a birds head...(duh, lol), but are they bad for the bird? What causes them? How can you get rid of them? Should I pluck them out?....HELP!

Answer 1

This is how every feather comes out! It comes in a little casing of calcium build-up, to help protect it while growing, and eventualy the calcium will just flake off.  If you want, when the feathers grow to normal size, and there is still calium on it, you can pinch the calcium right at the top, and help take it off. Most birds enjoy this, because otehr birds will do this to eachother, its called preening.  Good luck

Answer 2

No don't pluck them pin feathers are the actual feathers. They'll eventually come in.

Answer 3

Hi,

Don't pluck out you bird's pin feathers! Pin feathers are new feathers coming in that have a chitin sheath on them, kind of like a hard protective coating. Birds will preen and pick at the outer coating to remove it but they cannot reach the new feathers on their neck or head. She would probably appreciate it if you gave her a good scratch and rubbed some of the coating off of these new feathers. If she won't let you touch her head the coating will come off on its own and she will have pretty new feathers.

~ANIMAL HELPER~

Answer 4

They are the feather before they are full grown and before the outer coating comes off! kjl