Preening

Even the most fastidious persons don't spend as much time keeping themselves looking good as do birds, A good share of birds' waking hours are spent in preening. More than just good looks are at stake when it comes to feather care.

Feathers serve birds well, but they must be meticulously inspected, cleaned, lubricated and arranged at least once daily-and sometimes many times in a day. The task may take hours of work as average birds have more than 2000 feathers.

Nature's gift of flight demanded light weights, high power, and an aero-dynamically designed silhouette. Feathers are closely involved in all three.

First and most importantly, feathers must provide the insulation needed to maintain a hot body. To serve that purpose all feathers are cleaned of dust and dirt, and the down feathers are fluffed and untangled.

In the ritual of preening all the feathers are lubricated. Some birds use the oil from the preening gland near the base of the tail and others use the extremely fine powder down.

In either case feathers must be protected from wear. With only one set of feathers a year, and being in continuous use, if they become ragged and thin, they will lose their ability to carry out their functions. Birds seem to know that good feathering depends upon constant feather care, and so preen continually.

Preening is also a time for birds to check that each feather properly lies in its special location. To present an aerodynamically smooth surface each feather must fit the contour of the body.

 

At the same time the barbules coming off the main shaft are zippered together so that the vanes become a strong, wide, flat surface.

Feather Care Reflects Physical And Mental Health
Survival in captivity does not depend upon feather care as it does in the wild. Yet, for birds in captivity to be happy they need to continue performing these very important functions.

For pet birds to take excellent care of their feathers, everything in their lives needs to be "right". Feathers are the "report card'' of how well birds are doing.

Birds that have a "happy life'' in captivity take excellent care of their feathers.

Nowhere is it more obvious that mental health depends upon physical health than in birds. With any sort of ailment or deficiency, birds become defensive and nervous. This in turn causes them to inadequately groom themselves.

Encouraging Preening
Some pet birds either have never learned to preen, or their heritage for preening has been overshadowed by the stress of captivity. In any event, they can be helped. Preening can be stimulated through bathing and by encouraging beak activities.

Birds inevitably preen after being wet. So wetting their feathers daily will help. Beak exercises promoted daily will encourage preening. More information on page 137.