Editing Pin feather

{{short description|Developing bird feather that has bloodflow}}
{{for|the 1933 short film|Pin Feathers}}
{{unreliable sources|date=May 2023}}
[[File:A nestling of rock dove with pin feathers.jpg|thumb|A [[rock dove]] nestling with visible pin feathers]]
[[Image:Wellensittich01.jpg|thumb|200px|A [[budgerigar|budgie]] with pinfeathers from infancy]]
A '''pin feather''' is a developing [[feather]] on a [[bird]].<ref>[http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww20e.htm Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Weather The Feathers Molting in pet parrots and exotic birds - Birds, Birds, Birds<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> This feather can grow as a new feather during the bird's infancy, or grow to replace one from [[moulting]].

The pin feather looks somewhat like a feather shaft. However, unlike a fully developed feather, the pin feather has a blood supply flowing through it; at this stage, it may also be called a '''blood feather'''. As such, if the pin feather is damaged, a bird can bleed heavily.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=OiaNDAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Pin+feather%22++birds&pg=PA108 Lovette, I. J., & Fitzpatrick, J. W. (Eds.). (2016). ''Handbook of bird biology.'' John Wiley & Sons]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=hh11gLdZyDgC&dq=%22Pin+feather%22++birds&pg=PA360 Carnaby, T. (2008). ''Beat about the bush: birds''. Jacana Media.]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=S-r6DwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Pin+feather%22++%22sheath%22&pg=PA71 Jenni, L., & Winkler, R. (2020). ''The biology of moult in birds.'' Bloomsbury Publishing.]</ref><ref>[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 Lucas, A. M. & P. R. Stettenheim (1972). ''Avian Anatomy, Integument. Part I.''  Agricultural Handbook 362. United States Department of Agriculture, Washington D.C.]</ref>

As the pin feather grows longer, the blood supply is concentrated in only the base of the shaft, and the tip of the shaft encases the feather itself in a waxy coating. As moulting birds [[preening (bird)|preen]], they remove the waxy coating, and the feather unfurls.

When the blood has receded, the term "blood feather" is no longer synonymous with "pin feather" – it can only be referred to as a pin feather.

==Growth==
Pin feathers begin to develop after the feather bud invaginates a cylinder of [[Epidermis (skin)|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.

A bird with pin feathers may be said to be "'''in pin'''".

==Pet care==
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 [[chew toy|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.<ref>[http://www.keepingchickensnewsletter.com/site/pin-feathers-blood-feathers-chicken-first-aid Bleeding - Blood Feathers - Chicken First Aid]</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://care4yourpets.com/|title= Pet Care Guide }} Saturday, 16 February 2019 </ref>

To stop bleeding from a pin feather, it is necessary to pluck the feather from its base.<ref>[http://www.beautyofbirds.com/bleeding.html Bleeding Birds<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>  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.

==See also==
* [[filoplume]] ''(not to be confused)''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW-oPni7K8M Video showing pin feathers on the head of a moulting Alexandrine Parrot]

[[Category:Feathers]]
[[Category:Bird anatomy]]