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Post by Lorelei on Apr 25, 2023 9:27:47 GMT -5
Pippin has quite a few pin feathers on his head; he keeps asking me for preening, and I'm trying to help, but I'm really bad at it  The feathers are so tiny, he's so tiny, and my fingernails are really short. I'm doing my best, but he's let me know a couple of times that I've pinched or pulled him  Anyone got any tips? |
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Post by heatherg on Apr 25, 2023 11:45:06 GMT -5
Let your fingernails grow fora week and try again? Press on nails?
I’ve seen people groom head pinfeathers with a toothbrush. Haven’t tried it.
Another thing can be just sort of breathing on his prickly pin feathers; or trying to rub/ roll the feather between the pads of your fingers.
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Post by cnyguy on Apr 25, 2023 19:18:56 GMT -5
When there are a lot of pinfeathers it's hard not to touch one the wrong way. I routinely get squawked at or get a warning nip. I keep my fingernails very short but they're not essential to helping with pinfeathers. I just gently rub or massage Ralph's pinfeathers between two fingers. That seems to work pretty well.
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Post by heatherg on Apr 25, 2023 20:45:50 GMT -5
Your fingernails are essentially replacement beaks and so you should at least grow out your fingernail and thumbnail. Otherwise, hoe are you supposed to groom feathers? Huh?
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Post by Lorelei on Apr 26, 2023 11:22:02 GMT -5
Gosh, I will try; I do have a slight phobia of long nails though, they make me feel quite ill I will do my best to grow them for Pippin's sake; in the meantime, massaging between my fingers seemed to work ok today. Thanks for the comments, it really is helpful  |
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Post by Lorelei on Apr 26, 2023 11:23:00 GMT -5
Your fingernails are essentially replacement beaks and so you should at least grow out your fingernail and thumbnail. Otherwise, hoe are you supposed to groom feathers? Huh? I never thought of it like that! I'll do my best |
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Post by cnyguy on Apr 26, 2023 19:35:49 GMT -5
The method I use of massaging pinfeathers between two fingers works just fine without involving fingernails. Maybe it helps that my hands aren't soft.
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Post by heatherg on Apr 26, 2023 20:08:12 GMT -5
Gosh, I will try; I do have a slight phobia of long nails though, they make me feel quite ill I will do my best to grow them for Pippin's sake; in the meantime, massaging between my fingers seemed to work ok today. Thanks for the comments, it really is helpful Hi—-I was Just Kidding! I think my parrot views my nails as “beaks” but I don’t think anyone can really tell you you MUST do this or that. I’m sorry. |
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Post by Lorelei on Apr 27, 2023 16:37:46 GMT -5
Gosh, I will try; I do have a slight phobia of long nails though, they make me feel quite ill I will do my best to grow them for Pippin's sake; in the meantime, massaging between my fingers seemed to work ok today. Thanks for the comments, it really is helpful Hi—-I was Just Kidding! I think my parrot views my nails as “beaks” but I don’t think anyone can really tell you you MUST do this or that. I’m sorry. No need to apologise! I didn't take it as a serious criticism I'll continue to work on my preening technique and hope I improve |
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