What's on my budgie's head?

Question

There are three thin white things poking out of the top of his head. They look like feather stalks sort of, but with no feathers? I'm wondering if that's been making him cranky lately (because he has been). What is it exactly, and should I pull them out?

Ok, I figured he was molting, because there's been a lot of feathers floating around lately. So the things on the top of his head are what? Feather stalks? Should they come out by themselves?

Answer 1

He is molting, it is spring and alot of birds go through a molt at this time. You shouldn't pull them out. It does make them cranky but please understand your birdy doesn't mean any harm! It is just so darn itchy! You can help with alot of head scritches.

Here is another picture of the same thing to reassure you:
http://www.birds-online.de/gesundheit/gesgefieder/mauser_en.htm

Edit: Here is a picture of a budgie with a broken blood feather above his cere:
http://www.birds-online.de/gesundheit/gesgefieder/blutkielverletzungen_en.htm

Pin feathers, also called blood feathers, will emerge encased in a sheath called a quill. The quill is whitish in color and has a clear plastic-like appearance. The quill will contain a blood vein. As the feather grows inside of the quill, the blood vein retracts and the quill flakes off and disintegrates.

Birds will remove the quills from the pin feathers and pairs will preen each other to remove the old sheaths. Singly kept birds will benefit from having their owners preen the sheath in the places that they can't reach such as their head and neck area. Before you preen your bird's feathers check for the presence of blood feathers. New blood feathers are quite sensitive and your bird will surely let you know if you accidently try to preen one of them. Gently roll the end of the quill between your fingers to remove the sheath. The sheath should fall off easily. Birds can be sprayed daily to help them with the itchiness. If you prefer not to touch him he will shed them by himself you aren't required to pull them out for him.

Reference: http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww20e.htm

Answer 2

These are called pin feathers, they are new feathers coming through that are surrounded by wax (the white stuff).

They can be itchy for the bird and normally, it would have another bird preen it and help loosen the wax.

If your budgie lets you, preen his head and neck area, and use your fingers or nails to loosen the wax. Do not pull the feathers out.

If you don't help him, they will eventually come loose on their own or if he rubs them against something.

EDIT: I should mention that you shouldn't try to remove it if the pin feathers are new. Wait until it is really white and looks ready to come off.
In Peter Odekerken’s book, A Guide To Lories and Lorikeets, he reccomends to help remove it by rubbing it gently with your fingers or nails (not just lories, other birds like budgies too).

Answer 3

Have you noticed lots of feathers in or around his cage? They are just feather shafts and will go away when new feathers come in. He is molting.

Answer 4

They are pin feathers which are encased in a keratin sheath that protects them until they are fully grown out, then the sheath is shed.

It is NOT a good idea to help remove the keratin sheath becuase you could damage the growing feather (a bleeding budgie it not a good thing)

Give him a spray with room temp water to help ease his itchiness. or if he enjoys a bath offer him one.

Answer 5

He is moulting. They moult every 6 months
.

My bestfriend gets a old toothbrush and brushes the pin heads off his head for him He loves it.

Answer 6

perfectly normal,do not worry