What is a feather cyst?
Because a feather is a larger structure than a hair, a feather cyst is similar to an ingrown hair on a human, but it is much larger and wider. Cysts arise from the deformity of the developing feather within the subcutaneous follicle. A growing feather curls up inside the follicle into a mass of unopened feathers when it is unable to emerge through its normal opening in the skin.
Oval or elongated swellings involving one or more feather follicles are the outward manifestation of feather cysts. Although they can happen anywhere, they usually affect the wings’ primary and/or secondary feathers. Large, multiple feather cysts on the torso and wings are possible in canaries.
The feather grows larger, causing the cyst to expand and keratin that is yellow or white to accumulate beneath the skin. These cysts have the potential to grow quite large, and they occasionally contain many feather follicles in one cyst.
You will notice lumps on the skin of your bird if it develops feather cysts. These lumps will get bigger over time, and you might see your bird attempting to peck or scratch at them. Ingrown feathers hurt, much like ingrown hairs do, and until the cysts are removed, the affected birds may appear listless or irritable.
Your veterinarian can carefully extract the cyst’s keratin. It’s not as easy as popping a pimple, so don’t try to do this at home. Squeezing the cyst can cause it to bleed quite a bit. The cyst will eventually refill after it has been drained, so the treatment must be repeated as needed.
To cure the cyst permanently, surgery is required. The Merck Veterinary Manual states that a large portion of the feather follicle is dissected during this procedure. Depending on the size of the surgical area, your veterinarian will either seal the area with sutures or pack it with styptic wadding after the cyst and the ingrown feather have been removed. If there are numerous damaged feathers on your bird, this procedure might not be feasible.
My outdoor cats are quite effective at reducing the number of rodents around my house. I have always been concerned about this because these outdoor cats are exposed to so much more than indoor cats are. I began taking all of my cats to the veterinarian for examinations every six months to make sure they were healthy and hadn’t been hurt while doing their jobs around the property. What can happen to an outdoor cat? This blog will outline the risks that these animals face and offer advice on how to keep each and every one of them healthy while they carry out their natural duties.
People can develop painful cysts due to ingrown hairs, and a similar phenomenon can happen in birds. If your bird develops ingrown feathers, they may develop a granulomatous mass, known as a feather cyst, in the area. Here are four things bird owners need to know about feather cysts.
What causes a feather cyst?
Feather cyst formation can result from a variety of factors, such as genetic predisposition, bacterial or viral infection, malnourishment, trauma, feather-picking, self-mutilation, or any other condition that affects the feather’s growth.
Feather cysts can occur in any bird, but they are most common in Sun Conures, Blue and Gold Macaws, budgies (budgerigars), and some canary breeds (i e. , Glosters, Norwich, and Borders). Feather cyst formation in canaries appears to be correlated with genetics.
FAQ
How do you treat an ingrown feather?
What does a feather cyst look like?
Can feather cysts go away on their own?
Why does my bird have a bump on his wing?