that one cheek pinnie!

[PotHead]

See how the eyes are dialating like that? Thats called pinning and birds do it when they're happy or content. They love when you help get feather sheaths off them.

[yinnythefloofydragon]

For anyone confused, when birds are growing in new feathers, they’re first coated in a wax-like shell to protect them. Usually a bird just breaks them, but ones around the face and tail are hard to get. If you’re gentle you can use this as bonding with you bird because birds will preen other birds and do this.

Edit: please read my other replies before commenting, I’m tired of repeating myself.

[FEARASAWEAPON]

Some of these pin feathers have a blood supply to them, aka blood feathers. Sometimes they can get damaged and the bird will start to bleed out. I had a Cockatiel that this happened to once. At the time, all vets nearby were closed, and it was scary as they can bleed out very quickly because of their size.

I used flour (cornstarch works too) and applied it to the damaged end of the feather to stop the bleeding, and was able to pull out the broken blood feather with some pliers. Im no vet by any means, but thought I'd share in case someone found themselves in a similar situation, and needed to act quickly.

He survived the procedure btw, and went on to live for many years after. I only had that one blood feather incident. R.I.P Spooky you were a funny little guy.

[Kira-kgkl]

I absolutely love their eyes, so amazing to see them dilating like that up close

[Yasdilicious]

When I had my Cockatiel I would literally use my fingers. I'd be petting him and running my finger on his head and he'd get all happy and cuddly so I gently squeezed them so they'd break if they were grown enough then pull it off with ease. Never got upset, he'd just try to eat the shells of the feather casings occasionally lol

[Guildczii]

In the begining your lil bird is like “wow wtf are you doing?” But then you can see in her eyes she realizes what youre doing and lovesss ittt

[MaxwellFaro]

Poor thing, that’s a lot of them. He sure knows you’re helping and has a lot of patience.

[pokemon]

The budgie twitching in response to the preening is not what to look at here. The eye's pinning are all you need to see to know this birdie is loving whats going on

[Red_Vermin]

Thank you for being gentle and helping unsheathe those feathers.

[PinchiExivion]

He's beautiful. I absolutely love bonding with an animal. I think there's not a purest, holiest thing in the world.

[gentrelane]

God that has to feel amazing for the bird lol. My rooster loved when I would groom his mane/neck plumage sooo much. He would turn into a drooling puddle on my lap. I could do it by hand which was nice

[rikiarmin]

the bird black eyes.. i love seing it.. especially when it became small and big.. so cute ❤

[connied]

Major pinning action in the eyes 👀. This is something my birds definitely want to do on their own. A lot of trust there ❤

[marybotkin]

What a good birbie! This budgie knows its owner is trying to help those pin feathers bloom. They HURT. My sweet birbie, Gertie, always allowed me to open her pin feathers.

[lynnette]

The way their eyes dilate is fascinating

[Dysphoric_Gaming]

I thought a porcupine got that poor baby! I learned something new today! I didnt know how they grew new feathers or that they even grew 'new' feathers at all! Haha. So cool! 😂❤

[ohsuziq]

Wowzzza at first I thought you were going to pull that feather, and that was a blood feather for sure, your so gentle and loving. Thanks for sharing

[indigo]

I'm gonna need you to post every week to get my daily dose of preening. I love removing those pin feathers from my babies and see snow all over my desk lol. Once their feathers are fluffy I come here once a month to watch a playlist. I swear it's an addiction

[BlackFlagHeathen]

I love how her eyes are pinning while you do it. She’s clearly enthralled. 🥰

[jewlesw.]

How does a parakeet stay so calm ? This is so sweet❤