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Broken Blood Feathers and
Bleeding
Bleeding must be stopped immediately to
prevent rapid death.
Birds have a relatively small supply of circulating blood
in their bodies. If you notice any blood on the bird or on its
cage or surrounding area, try to locate the cause of the
bleeding immediately. Unchecked blood loss can result in death
in a fairly short amount of time. Handle the bleeding bird
carefully so as not to cause it to struggle and panic, which
could result in more blood loss.
Once the location of the bleeding has been determined, try
to stop the blood flow immediately. If the bird is bleeding
from the beak (from flying into glass or another object),
apply styptic powder or any cauterizing agent (cornstarch,
flour, baking soda) by packing it heavily onto the bleeding
area. Be very careful! If the bird is bleeding from a broken
toenail, follow the same procedure as for the beak. If the
bird is bleeding from a broken blood feather (a developing
feather that still has a flowing blood supply in the shaft),
pull the feather immediately with a pair of needle-nosed
pliers. Grab the feather firmly at the base of the quill, and
pull the feather in the growth direction. If the area
continues to bleed after the feather has been pulled, apply a
cauterizing agent to stop the blood flow. Keep a close eye on
the area of injury even after the bleeding has stopped to
ensure that the wound does not open again.
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