Tailfeather looks odd

[Rebecca628]

:confused:

One of Captain Jack's (cockatiel) tailfeathers seems to be out of place the last few days. It appears to be pointing up at about a 30 degree angle above the rest of the feathers, and it doesn't go back to flat when he ruffles or flutters (wings are clipped.) Is this something normal? I've barely had him 2 months, so I am not sure. Just want to do the best for my baby!
Thanks,
Rebecca

[Jim]

Hi Rebecca, I wouldn't be too concerned about it. I saw the tail feather in one of your pics and wondered at the time if it was out of place or bent a little. My birds used to get their tail feathers bent, like a straw gets bent, when they were younger. No biggy. It could be ready to molt out also, sometimes especially younger birds, will start to pull it out and not finish the job or it starts to molt out and they haven't learn to pull it out yet. He'll figure it out.:)

[Jean]

Excellent advice Jim!

[SadennaAndFlock]

quite possible the shaft itself is bent you can cut off with scissors or let it come off on it's own, if it seems to be bothering your bird cut it off with the scissors where it bends make sure it is not a blood feather though.

[parrotgirl]

Bucc had a very odd feather yesterday he wouldn't let us touch it or anything, anyway it was bent so bad that it was hanging by his foot, I figured he might be more comfortable in his cage and let me look at it, put him in he said his night night's then I had a look at the feather but as I was looking it just came right off in my hand, He made me feel really bad cos he asked "wot you done, what's that, Ohhhhhhhh nasty mum" as you can guess he was fine, It was one that was ready to come out, but he had been trying to get it out and had bent it.