-- Cathy Brown, Victoria, Australia

My 12-year-old male cockatiel has been acting as if his right wing pains him in some way. Lately, when he "fluffs up," he does it awkwardly, trying not to shake that wing, and he sometimes screams. When I touch that wing he tries to bite me. He is able to move and spread the wing, so I don't think it's broken.

-- Charlotte

I'm concerned about my African grey. He's 3 years old; I've had him since he was 8 weeks old. He used to be pretty loving and seemed normal. Now when I approach his cage he seems terrified of me. For some reason, Dante is unable to grow flight feathers in one of his wings. I was covered with bites so the vet recommended using Haldol to calm Dante enough to allow his feathers to grow in all the way. (They start coming in, then break off before maturing. They are definitely breaking and not being chewed.) The hope was that while on Haldol Dante would also get used to being handled again and wouldn't freak out. But he still freaks out when we approach him. Late at night, when he's very tired, I can take him out of his cage and hold him and pet him, and he cuddles up with me and seems more like his old self. My theory is that Dante's wing is hurt. I think he's in pain and that's why he can't handle being touched. He stands with the wing raised slightly and holds his body so that the wing is away from me. I've spent thousands on vets in the last couple years and he's worse than ever.

-- trish_1_german@hotmail.com

Wings and their associated feathers are highly evolved, specialized structures. When soft tissue or bone is injured or diseased it affects how the bird holds and uses the wing. Each of the problems described here could be caused by any one of a number of abnormalities or injuries - that's why it's important to get a qualified avian veterinarian to thoroughly examine a problematic wing. X-rays and possibly other tests may be necessary.

Birds often sustain wing injuries when they startle and instinctively take off flying to avoid the perceived danger. The primary flight feathers, those from the "wrist" (the major joint at the end of the wing, also called the carpus) to the tip of the wing, are firmly attached to the surface of the bone. When wings get thrust between cage bars, tendons, ligaments, skin and bones can get battered as well as feathers. New feathers are especially sensitive. Once a feather has reached its full length, the blood supply that nourishes it receeds from the quill (shaft) and the feather becomes a dead structure held in place by the follicle. Until then, it's delicate and easily damaged. Losing several flight feathers at once complicates things. Normally, old feathers on either side protect a new feather until it stiffens. When several feathers in a row are growing in they don't have this protection and are easily damaged. And if the feathers on the very tip of the wing are gone, the tip is exposed and very vulnerable. One way to help ensure feathers don't break while growing in is to keep the bird in a smooth-sided container such as a fish tank. Good luck.

James Harris, DVM is owner and medical director of the Mayfair Veterinary Clinic in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia. He founded Montclair Veterinary Hospital in Oakland, Calif., and has served as medical director and chairman of the board for the International Bird Rescue Research Center in Berkeley. Dr. Harris' numerous professional honors include California and National Bustad Companion Animal DVM Awards.

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