What Are Pinfeathers on Birds?

The term pinfeather describes the newly grown feathers found on a bird that is going through a molt. A pinfeather is short when it first appears from the skin of your bird. It emerges through her skin and it is covered in the same type of keratin that makes up the shafts of feathers.
What Do Pinfeathers Look Like?
Pinfeathers or blood feathers look like pins poking up through the skin which is probably why they are called what they are called. These are the live immature feathers with a blood supply that is growing out to replace an old feather that the bird has molted. This keratin sheath which is primarily composed of protein is very similar in composition to the horn on an animal a hoof or a toenail. It must be removed in order for the new feather to unfurl and grow properly.

This keratin sheath is to protect the newly grown feather while it is developing. As the feather grows the sheath surrounding the brand new feather gets longer. As the bird preens herself it helps chip off the sheath. This preening and chipping allow the feather to expand and unfurl while it develops. There is an active blood supply that feeds the feather. As the feather continues to grow the blood supply settles back down into the base of the feather structure close to the skin. These new pinfeathers are very delicate while they are emerging so care should be taken when handling your bird. 
The Complexity of Feathers
Feathers are actually quite complex and have different parts to their overall structure. There are several types of feathers that make up a birds plumage. And there are different names for the different parts of the feathers. Each is designed by nature to do a job that is quite specific to

the feathers function. The types of jobs that different feathers do fall into these specific classifications Insulation waterproofing display flight and camouflage.
The Calamus
The calamus is the base of the feather that becomes the rachis pronounced raykiss as you move up the central shaft of the feather. The rachis is the main central shaft of the feather. In most of the feathers on a bird the rachis is stiff and supports the feathery barbs that come out of the shaft. The barbs are the main larger branches of the feather.
The Barbules
The barbules are the secondary branches of the feather and are