Hi everyone

I have a question about pin or flight feathers, I think they are one of the same? but I could be confused about the actual term. Either way I may have a slight problem with Nessie as when we got her from the pet shop last April they said they had someone clip her wings so we didnt get a say in whether we wanted her flighted or not but either way they cut her wings too short and they aren't growing back properly. Even after all of this time. Ash and I will take her to the vet now we've noticed this, last time he just said oh wait a few months and we have. Well I don't know what its called but the white hard, sticky bits are still sticking out of her wings like the end of the feathers aren't covering properly or something. I'll have to post a photo when I can of this.

I'm worried if we breed her she'll always be a "runner bird" thats what Ash called, my other half, he's always been around birds but is unsure of this as he's only had avary birds. If we breed and she can't fly up properly and can only climb will that make her less inclined to go back to her eggs? I know its still a fair way off before she does breed as we stiill need to aqquire a mate and what not and that won't happen for a nother year but still... its like her wings are growing back in really slowly, her tail feathers have finally come in really nice and the rest of her is all great, just the flight feathers are a bit odd.

What do you guys think?
Should I have some precautions for her when we do breed like extra ladders or something or not breed at all? and

I don't know about complaining either to where we got her for possibly deforming our bird? looking at first you wouldn't see a problem, just when you look closer you'll see feather bits are spiky in a way.

I will post pictures soon, sorry I'm rambling, just got back from the Andre Riue concert and I wanted to post this before I forgot!

thanks in advance

Pin feathers are feathers that are growing in and have a sheath around them. As the feather grows in more, if the bird can reach them, they pick off the sheath and fluff the feather out. All feathers start out as pin feathers. It sounds like your birds flight feathers are growing in and if so they can be tender while they are still dark in color, these have a blood supply and my bird doesn't like me touching them. Give her some time and I bet they will grow in fine

Kiwi had his flights trimmed too short one time and I can remember it took forever for them to grow back in.

Yeah, they grow in every 2 years ( i remember correctly) Primary feathers grow in one year and then coverlets grow in the next year. It wasn't until reepicheep was almost 2 when her feathers started to grow back.

The quill is still in the wing but has no feather or few feathers barbs attached is that correct?

How old is the bird?

As was said, Pin feathers are the new feathers coming in that have the sheath that resembles the tip of a shoe string The quil is the tip of the feather that stays under the skin that is the anchor so to speak; In the olden days you heard of Quill pins they used the quill in of a feather to dip in ink so they could write.

Guaging from my birds, it usually takes a full year for them to moult their whole body out however flight feathers and tail feathers are usually replaced every six months with their spring and fall moults I wouldn't worry about it too much yet for another few months...

When I got my Macaw her wings had been trimmed way incorrectly they took all but the out two primaries and took all of her secondary flights so she was trimmed all the way from the first two flights all the way to her body basically it took a good year to 18 months for them to all moult out and grow back in.

Its weird, it seems like when you want them to fly it takes for ever for them to grow back in, but when you want to keep them flightless it seems like they moult and grow in over night.

As I said, I wouldn't worry about it quite yet. And hopefully you won't be breeding her till she's 2 years old anyway so they should all be back in by then.

Yep I am sure they will come in Nessie is still quite young and I know the one time my Sunny was clipped (worst mistake I ever made) they took FOREVER to grow back.....

I really wouldn't worry at all about it. I have two birds that are insanely gimp, and the least of their concerns is their flight feathers. If you do decide to beed nessie you shouldn't worry about her mobility as they are incredibly adaptive birds. I fully support clipped birds, since houses aren't their natural habitat, and I like to take as many precautions as possible. With that said safety is the highest priority in any procedure done on a bird. Don't forget that sometimes you do get a little paranoid about your bird's well being, and we all do too, but never hold back on having your concerns brought to light. It doesn't matter who's fault the problem is, what matters is that you get the answers to your questions!

Thanks you guys
its such a relief
I will still try to get a photo of what I'm talking about
and I have to admit whilst reading back I think I was rambling
a bit in that post but thats how I get after a long day haha
but am glad that it sounds like its normal then, when I worry
I tend to overworry and think its the worst thing ever to happen
or something when it comes to my furbabies and fid ^^

Good news Jess.
Nessie is fine.

Tricia