Hemingway had his first wing clip today-- I think it was more traumatic for me than him...

He seems to be OK now. But now that we're home I noticed that there is a stray flight feather left on one of his wings. It looks a bit disheveled and perhaps even bent (slightly). I am worried that this feather will bother him and he'll start biting at it? Should we return for another traumatic visit to the clippers or clip the feather ourselves or just leave the thing?

So worrysome.. so worrysome.. our poor little dude. Like taking our human baby for his first shots!

I recently had a little experience with Kiwi where he fell off of his cage and lost a few feathers, but one stayed in and was all backwards and stuff. Everyone on here said to just leave it alone and Kiwi would take care of it. It was just a couple of days and yep, Kiwi took care of it.

If it was me, I'd clip it myself. Mostly for appearances, but there is also the slim chance that the feather, being mosly unsupported by surrounding feathers, could get caught up and broken. If it's a blood feather then you'd have a problem.

I agree .. I would make sure that it isn't a blood feather and clip it even with the others for the same reasons that UZ has mentioned.

Even if one of the boys had a broken feather I would clip it past the break as long as there was no blood in the shaft and then let nature take its course by molting it ..

For us amateurs without proper equipment.. what tool do we use to clip a stray feather? (Seems like a dumb question but just thinking there might be some things better than others) And can someone reiterate how we tell if it is a blood feather? You all are great for your advice! Thanks!

I use a sharp pair of scissors.

Here is a site that shows what blood feathers look like and what they are Click~Here

Like Dee and Ron said, check for blood feathers and then just cut before the bend in the feather starts so that you are cutting off the bended part.