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Pin feather
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<h2 id="growth">Growth</h2> <p>Pin feathers begin to develop after the feather bud invaginates a cylinder of <a href="/facts/Epidermis_(skin)/JvRABubP">epidermal tissue</a> 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 <a href="/facts/Dermis/WAm7Fd6P">dermis</a>, it differentiates into a protective peripheral sheath, longitudinal barb ridges, and <a href="/facts/Growth_plates/Q1VuGTDS">growth plates</a>. 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 <a href="/facts/Cilia/C9l436HM">cilia</a>, while the marginal and axial plate die to form the intervening space within the feather structure. </p><p>A bird with pin feathers may be said to be "in pin". </p> <h2 id="pet-care">Pet care</h2> <p>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 <a href="/facts/Chew_toy/BIH1CECu">chewing toys</a> 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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p><p>To stop bleeding from a pin feather, it is necessary to pluck the feather from its base.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> 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. </p> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li> Media related to Pin feathers at Wikimedia Commons</li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW-oPni7K8M">Video showing pin feathers on the head of a moulting Alexandrine Parrot</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Weather The Feathers Molting in pet parrots and exotic birds - Birds, Birds, Birds <a href="http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww20e.htm" target="_blank">http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww20e.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Lovette, I. J., & Fitzpatrick, J. W. (Eds.). (2016). Handbook of bird biology. John Wiley & Sons <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=OiaNDAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Pin+feather%22++birds&pg=PA108" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=OiaNDAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Pin+feather%22++birds&pg=PA108</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Carnaby, T. (2008). Beat about the bush: birds. Jacana Media. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=hh11gLdZyDgC&dq=%22Pin+feather%22++birds&pg=PA360" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=hh11gLdZyDgC&dq=%22Pin+feather%22++birds&pg=PA360</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Jenni, L., & Winkler, R. (2020). The biology of moult in birds. Bloomsbury Publishing. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=S-r6DwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Pin+feather%22++%22sheath%22&pg=PA71" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=S-r6DwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Pin+feather%22++%22sheath%22&pg=PA71</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Lucas, A. M. & P. R. Stettenheim (1972). Avian Anatomy, Integument. Part I. Agricultural Handbook 362. United States Department of Agriculture, Washington D.C. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=jXW6y1wSeWAC&dq=%22A+feather+at+this+stage+in+any+generation+is+often+called+a+pin+feather%2C+but+we+designate+it+as+representing+the+early+immature+stage+of+development%22&pg=PA199" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=jXW6y1wSeWAC&dq=%22A+feather+at+this+stage+in+any+generation+is+often+called+a+pin+feather%2C+but+we+designate+it+as+representing+the+early+immature+stage+of+development%22&pg=PA199</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Bleeding - Blood Feathers - Chicken First Aid <a href="http://www.keepingchickensnewsletter.com/site/pin-feathers-blood-feathers-chicken-first-aid" target="_blank">http://www.keepingchickensnewsletter.com/site/pin-feathers-blood-feathers-chicken-first-aid</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Pet Care Guide". Saturday, 16 February 2019 <a href="http://care4yourpets.com/" target="_blank">http://care4yourpets.com/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Bleeding Birds <a href="http://www.beautyofbirds.com/bleeding.html" target="_blank">http://www.beautyofbirds.com/bleeding.html</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>