Feathers make birds beautiful, they come in a variety of sizes and colours and look stunning weather on birds or in a collection. From brilliant red and, pretty yellow and everything in between, feathers are awe-inspiring. Our feathered friends naturally have feathers and seem to have no problem growing them back if they fall off or get plucked. If you’ve seen this happen the question on your mind may be ‘how do birds grow feathers’ this article explores this question 

Bird feathers are created in the feather producing cells of the bird, these cells multiply until they protrude through the bird’s skin. These cells then separate into the feather holder, feather cap and feather. After some time, the cap and holder fall off leaving only the feather 

How do birds grow feathers?

Birds have a skin structure that is similar to that of a human and birds have layers of skin that produce feathers. First, the inner layer of skin starts making feathers from feather-producing cells. When these multiply to a sizeable length, they protrude through to the outer layer of skin where the cells separate into three types, the cells separate into those that form a feather holder, a feather cap, and the feather itself.

The feather is covered by the feather holder, the feather cap covers the pore that the feather protrudes from on the outer layer of skin. The cells keep multiplying and eventually both the feather holder and the feather cap fall off, leaving a brand new soft feather that will grow into a fully formed feather. The feather blueprint provides instructions that determine what kind of feather it will become and its size too. 

Is it painful for birds to grow feathers?

Generally, growing bird feathers causes more irritation than pain. They can be painful if there is an underlying skin condition or if they are disturbed significantly. A bird should be observed for abnormal behaviour to determine if feather growth is causing pain. If so, enlist the services of an avian vet to determine the next course of action. 

Birds have grown feathers for many years in line with their genetic code, without it becoming a major issue for them. So it is unlikely that growing feathers will cause too much discomfort. 

How long does it take for a bird to grow a feather?

Feather growth rates differ from bird to bird and are also determined by the reason the feather grows. If the feathers need to grow because the bird was shedding them, or if the feathers were plucked for more comfortable brooding, they will likely grow back in about two to three months. But if the feathers were cut off, fell off due to disease or injury, then they are unlikely to grow back or will take very long before they are replenished. 

Can a bird live without feathers?

Birds can live without feathers but will experience more discomfort due to the inability to protect themselves from extreme temperatures, the inability to fly, or the inability to attract a mate. A bird without feathers is also more likely to attract predators or be attacked by other birds of its kind which are naturally reducing the risk of predation or mistake it for a rival bird species. 

How long does it take for a bird’s wings to grow back after being clipped?

It will take longer for a bird with clipped wings to grow its feathers back. Feather regrowth follows an internal bird clock that determines the most appropriate time for them to be shed off. On the other hand, too many feathers can cause discomfort when not needed. As such, feather re-growth will take time as the bird’s genetics attempt to return the cycle nearer to its natural state.

Conclusion

In conclusion, feathers are grown by the feather cells in the bird’s skin, these cells grow into the feather cap, feather holder and the actual feather. Once the feather is formed, the cap and holder fall off. Feather growing is more irritating than painful for birds. Birds can live without feathers but living this way can be uncomfortable. The time it takes for feathers to grow depends on the reason for feather loss and the species of bird 

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