If a bird’s wing is damaged with wing feathers missing, is it possible for that bird to fly again?
Specifically a pigeon, if their wing feathers are damaged and some missing/pulled out, is it possible for them to fly again or for the feathers to grow back? I am using the information for a story. The character used to raise pigeons and for Valentine’s Day recieves an injured bird to nurse from an admirer.
Also, if the feather is damaged and then pulled out, will that grow faster?
For the story, the bird was attacked by an animal and it’s wing was damaged, along with the feathers.
Do the wing feathers bleed?
If the wing is not broken and it is just the feathers then yes there is a great chance that the bird will fly again. If the wing is broken: the bones have to be lined up perfectly so when it heals the bone will be straight. If the feathers are damaged you could wait up to a year before the bird will be releasable. Pulling does force a molt, in a story that is fine, real life it is a painful procedure and a vet should be involved. Feather follicles can be severely damaged if done wrong and feathers may either grow in funny or not at all. The stages of a feather is Blood Feather -have a blood supply to them and if they are broken can bleed for hours causing death, Pin Feathers – the blood supply is no longer present so if broken only the feather is damaged. Pin Feathers are a sheath that covers the forming feather inside when the feather is formed the sheathing dries and flakes off leaving the new feather intact.
A fun animal that can go after and attack your pigeon could be a Cooper’s Hawk or a Red Shouldered Hawk both are bird eaters and are found commonly.
XSI Wing Feather Tool