BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Birds My poor Parakeet!

We just adopted a sweet little keet and my 3 yr old got ahold of it and pulled its tail feathers out! Will he be okay ? ? ? Any advice is appreciated! (Yes, I know, The 3 yr old should not be handling the bird, esp. alone... but I thought the cage was locked when in fact it wasnt...Unfortunately). <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Since you already know that your child should not be handling the bird without supervision, I won't give you a lecture on that. :rolling:

Yes, the tail feathers will grow back.

Thank you Mavis, I am a new bird owner and worried about his health... I appreciate your feedback!

I have 3 parakeets and something birds do when they're grumpy with each other is pull each other's feathers out. It's sort of like kids poking at each other. The birds of course are sore when this happens and it makes them more skittish (and they can't fly well!!) but the feathers do grow back. My keets appear to molt 3-4 times a year normally so it's a month or 2 before they're back to feathered again.

Definitely keep the cage locked when you're not around! Those keets can get into all sorts of trouble <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thank you lisa... I guess until his new feathers grow back it will just be a matter of looking odd. He looks like a dog with no tail! Poor guy, I am just glad that its not a fatal injury!
He is sooo sweet!
Thanks for the feedback!

Carrie...the very first day I got my cockateil, I was holding him in my hands introducing him to the different rooms in our house...he took a notion to fly and quickly, noticing the ceiling fan was on in the next room (I had forgot to turn it off!!) I grabbed him and as he slipped out of my hand, I was left with only his tailfeathers!! I called the vet and he said he would be fine and the tail would grow back...so don't be too upset with yourself as this has happened to others! I would suggest the locked cage door, though, as you do have a youngster in the house! LOL, on a lighter note...yes, they sure do look funny without their tails...kinda like a little midget bird! Well, TC!
Lydia*