A pin feather is a developing feather on a bird.[1] This feather can grow as a new feather during the bird's infancy, or grow to replace one from moulting.
A rock dove nestling with visible pin feathersA budgie with pinfeathers from infancy
The pin feather looks somewhat like a feather shaft. However, unlike a fully developed feather, the pin feather has a blood supply flowing through it; at this stage, it may also be called a blood feather. As such, if the pin feather is damaged, a bird can bleed heavily.[2][3][4][5]
As the pin feather grows longer, the blood supply is concentrated in only the base of the shaft, and the tip of the shaft encases the feather itself in a waxy coating. As moulting birds preen, they remove the waxy coating, and the feather unfurls.
When the blood has receded, the term "blood feather" is no longer synonymous with "pin feather" – it can only be referred to as a pin feather.
Pin feathers begin to develop after the feather bud invaginates a cylinder of epidermal tissue around the base of the dermal papilla, forming the feather follicle. At the base of the feather follicle, epithelial cells proliferate to grow the epidermal collar or cylinder. As the epidermal cylinder extends through dermis, it differentiates into a protective peripheral sheath, longitudinal barb ridges, and growth plates. Over time these barb ridges lengthen helically, branch to create barbs and barbules, and fuse to form the rachis or central shaft. Moreover, the barb plate further differentiate into hooklets and cilia, while the marginal and axial plate die to form the intervening space within the feather structure.
Pet careedit
During moulting, a bird may get careless and begin to chew its feathers and might accidentally damage a blood feather. To prevent this, it is necessary that the bird is given chewing toys so that it does not chew at its own feathers. Pin feathers are sensitive, and some pet birds do not enjoy being handled while moulting for this reason.[6][7]
To stop bleeding from a pin feather, it is necessary to pluck the feather from its base.[8] Bleeding must be taken care of as soon as possible to prevent too much blood loss. However, this can be difficult for a pet bird owner to do on a larger bird, so it is recommended owners have the necessary tools on hand in a first aid kit. If assistance is needed, the bird should be taken to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Referencesedit
^Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Weather The Feathers Molting in pet parrots and exotic birds - Birds, Birds, Birds
^Lovette, I. J., & Fitzpatrick, J. W. (Eds.). (2016). Handbook of bird biology. John Wiley & Sons
^Carnaby, T. (2008). Beat about the bush: birds. Jacana Media.
^Jenni, L., & Winkler, R. (2020). The biology of moult in birds. Bloomsbury Publishing.
^Lucas, A. M. & P. R. Stettenheim (1972). Avian Anatomy, Integument. Part I. Agricultural Handbook 362. United States Department of Agriculture, Washington D.C.
Media related to Pin feathers at Wikimedia Commons
Video showing pin feathers on the head of a moulting Alexandrine Parrot
April 18, 2024
feather, 1933, short, film, feathers, some, this, article, listed, sources, reliable, please, help, improve, this, article, looking, better, more, reliable, sources, unreliable, citations, challenged, removed, 2023, learn, when, remove, this, template, message. For the 1933 short film see Pin Feathers Some of this article s listed sources may not be reliable Please help improve this article by looking for better more reliable sources Unreliable citations may be challenged and removed May 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message A pin feather is a developing feather on a bird 1 This feather can grow as a new feather during the bird s infancy or grow to replace one from moulting A rock dove nestling with visible pin feathersA budgie with pinfeathers from infancyThe pin feather looks somewhat like a feather shaft However unlike a fully developed feather the pin feather has a blood supply flowing through it at this stage it may also be called a blood feather As such if the pin feather is damaged a bird can bleed heavily 2 3 4 5 As the pin feather grows longer the blood supply is concentrated in only the base of the shaft and the tip of the shaft encases the feather itself in a waxy coating As moulting birds preen they remove the waxy coating and the feather unfurls When the blood has receded the term blood feather is no longer synonymous with pin feather it can only be referred to as a pin feather Contents 1 Growth 2 Pet care 3 References 4 External linksGrowth editPin feathers begin to develop after the feather bud invaginates a cylinder of epidermal tissue around the base of the dermal papilla forming the feather follicle At the base of the feather follicle epithelial cells proliferate to grow the epidermal collar or cylinder As the epidermal cylinder extends through dermis it differentiates into a protective peripheral sheath longitudinal barb ridges and growth plates Over time these barb ridges lengthen helically branch to create barbs and barbules and fuse to form the rachis or central shaft Moreover the barb plate further differentiate into hooklets and cilia while the marginal and axial plate die to form the intervening space within the feather structure Pet care editDuring moulting a bird may get careless and begin to chew its feathers and might accidentally damage a blood feather To prevent this it is necessary that the bird is given chewing toys so that it does not chew at its own feathers Pin feathers are sensitive and some pet birds do not enjoy being handled while moulting for this reason 6 7 To stop bleeding from a pin feather it is necessary to pluck the feather from its base 8 Bleeding must be taken care of as soon as possible to prevent too much blood loss However this can be difficult for a pet bird owner to do on a larger bird so it is recommended owners have the necessary tools on hand in a first aid kit If assistance is needed the bird should be taken to a veterinarian as soon as possible References edit Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine Weather The Feathers Molting in pet parrots and exotic birds Birds Birds Birds Lovette I J amp Fitzpatrick J W Eds 2016 Handbook of bird biology John Wiley amp Sons Carnaby T 2008 Beat about the bush birds Jacana Media Jenni L amp Winkler R 2020 The biology of moult in birds Bloomsbury Publishing Lucas A M amp P R Stettenheim 1972 Avian Anatomy Integument Part I Agricultural Handbook 362 United States Department of Agriculture Washington D C Bleeding Blood Feathers Chicken First Aid Pet Care Guide Saturday 16 February 2019 Bleeding BirdsExternal links edit nbsp Media related to Pin feathers at Wikimedia Commons Video showing pin feathers on the head of a moulting Alexandrine Parrot Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pin feather amp oldid 1192406019, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
