Clyde has a whole batch of pin feathers on his head and neck but he absolutely refuses to let me mess with them. I can pet him, if he's in the right mood, but if I start paying too much attention to pin feathers, or trying to scratch to loosen the casings, he squawks in no uncertain terms. They're completely white so they're not blood feathers, are they? Should I just let them be?

While it is a great experience to be able to help our fids with their pin feathers if Clyde is compeltely against the idea i'd just leave him be.. they will come out .. I'd just mist him daily to help soften them for him so that when he does scratch his head etc they may come off easier..

Kiwi has particular moods he's a lil lovebug and LOVES being preened and other times want snothing to do with my wandering and poling fingers Just follow Clyde's lead

I've been letting pretty boy bathe every day and he sticks his whole head under water then lets me give him a good head scratch. I think the bathing helps alot.

Yeah they can get touchy with you preening them you need to be quite gentle or you will get a nip..lol frequent bathes and spritzing will help soften them and if you fid lets you give him a gentle towel dry you can usually manage to break a few pins while your doing that ...
Good luck..

My quaker Kiwi had those for the longest time all over the back of his head and neck. I finally purchased a full spectrum light at Petland and his pin feathers finally went away. I too would try and get rid of his pin feathers a few at a time but he had so many I could never get all of them. I even tried bathing him everday and still nothing. It makes sense that the light would help because their molting all deals with light cycles so having more light assists them in getting rid of those stubborn pin feathers. My light was not too expensive either...it's one of those coil ones that just plugs into a normal heat-lamp looking clamp. Hope this helps! I have deifinitely noticed Kiwi's color and feathers improve since getting the lamp.