Pin feather
A developing feather with a blood supply, sensitive and prone to bleeding.
A pin feather is a feather that is still growing. It may appear during a bird’s first development or when it replaces a lost feather through molting. In this stage, the feather looks like a shaft but contains a live blood supply, which is why it is also called a blood feather. If a pin feather is broken, the bird can bleed heavily.
As the feather lengthens, the blood supply retreats to just the base of the shaft. The tip becomes covered in a waxy coating that encases the feather. When molting birds preen, they remove this coating, allowing the feather to unfurl. Once the blood has fully receded, the term “blood feather” no longer applies—only “pin feather” is used.
**Growth** Pin feathers start forming when the feather bud pushes a cylinder of epidermal tissue inward around the base of the dermal papilla, creating the feather follicle. At the follicle’s base, epithelial cells multiply to form the epidermal collar or cylinder. As this cylinder extends through the dermis, it splits into a protective outer sheath, longitudinal barb ridges, and growth plates. The barb ridges then lengthen in a spiral, branch into barbs and barbules, and fuse to form the central shaft (rachis). The barb plate further differentiates into hooklets and cilia, while the marginal and axial plates die off, creating the open spaces within the feather. A bird with pin feathers is sometimes described as being “in pin.”
**Pet Care** During molting, a bird may start chewing its feathers and accidentally damage a blood feather. To prevent this, owners should provide chewing toys so the bird does not turn to its own feathers. Pin feathers are sensitive, and many pet birds dislike being handled while molting for this reason.
If a pin feather bleeds, it must be plucked from the base to stop the bleeding. This should be done quickly to prevent excessive blood loss. For larger birds, this can be difficult for an owner, so it is wise to keep necessary tools in a first aid kit. If help is needed, the bird should be taken to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
- Also known as
- blood feather (when blood supply is present)
- Associated process
- moulting and feather replacement
- Key characteristic
- contains a blood supply when developing
- Risk
- heavy bleeding if damaged
- Growth origin
- feather follicle at base of dermal papilla
Lore & Background
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.
Reader's Guide
Pin feathers are significant in avian biology and pet care because they represent a vulnerable stage of feather development. During moulting, a bird may get careless and chew its feathers, potentially damaging a blood feather and causing heavy bleeding. 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. To stop bleeding from a pin feather, it is necessary to pluck the feather from its base. 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. A bird with pin feathers may be said to be 'in pin'.
Did You Know?
- A pin feather may also be called a blood feather when it has a blood supply flowing through it.
- If a pin feather is damaged, a bird can bleed heavily.
- As the pin feather grows, the blood supply concentrates in only the base of the shaft, and the tip encases the feather in a waxy coating.
- When the blood has receded, the term 'blood feather' is no longer synonymous with 'pin feather'.
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