My cockatiel's wing feathers won't grow back what should I do?

[DiamondSwan]

Rosie got spooked and hurt herself by flying into a window and lost most of her flight feathers on her right wing about a year ago, and they haven't grown back. It was bleeding, but only a tiny, barely noticeable, spot. I thought she would be fine and her feathers would grow back, but she still holds up her wing like it hurts sometimes and no new feathers have grown back. She can kinda fly, or glide, (lets just say she can get around,) but she can't fly anywhere near as graceful as tweety. I called to see how much it would cost to take her to the vet and it's terrifyingly expensive! Does anyone know why her feathers aren't growing back? And is there anything I can do to help her?

 

[nchls school]

When you can, spread the bird's wing out fully and take a close up then post it. Normally those feathers should have grown back in three months. Broken feathers take longer in that the shaft is still embedded in the wing and will not fall out until the tiel goes through a full molt. Certainly this should have occurred within the year. If the feather follicles are damaged or in the case of repeated feather loss, like plucking, the feather won't grow back. Diet can also be a factor as well as advanced age. And health problems. Are you sure it has been a year?

 

[DiamondSwan]

Yeah I'm pretty sure it has been a year. She's about 5 years old and on a mostly seed diet. Both Tweety and Rosie aren't that big on people food, but they will eat crackers, cereal, pizza, and other bread foods. I know it's not very healthy, but I can not get them to eat any fruits or veggies. We got them when they were 3 years old on Craigslist, and I don't think the owner gave them anything but seed. I don't think it's diet though because Tweety lost most of her tail feathers sometime back when she was going through her molt, and all of her feathers grew back pretty fast. (Tweety is the other bird.) Let me know if you need any more pictures.

Top of the wing:

The blood spot was where those tiny feathers are on the edge under her wing. Those little feathers have been there forever and aren't growing any bigger:

Wing size comparison:

Thanks for your help @nchls school.

 

[nchls school]

From your pictures it looks as though only the outmost flight feathers are missing. Look to see if those outmost feathers are broke off. My wife and have raised tiels for many years. Should the feathers be broken off that would explain why they have not been replaced yet. Diet could also be a factor. Cockatiels can be extremely picky and often only eat what they like resulting if a shortened life spans and other health problems. Getting them to eat new foods takes patience; keep offering the food and in time they will try it-it may take a lot of time so give the foods in small portions to not waste. A lot of tiels will try a new food if they see their owner eating it. Count the flight feathers on each wing and determine how many are missing on the one wing. If the feathers are broken off they can be plucked and the new feathers will come in quickly (3-4 weeks).

 

[Tony K T]

Looks like someone may have pinioned it so it will never fly.Pinioning is done by removing the last joint in the wing and will not ever grow back.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[DiamondSwan]

The only broken feather I may have found is this tiny one right here. It bled a little. I don't know if that would keep her feathers from growing though. It took 3 people to pin her down and the plucking was very painful 8{. She is the sweetest bird in the world, but when people mess with her wings she can be mean.

@nchls school

 

[DiamondSwan]

Looks like someone may have pinioned it so it will never fly.Pinioning is done by removing the last joint in  the wing and will not ever grow back.
In N.H.,Tony.

That could of happened when she banged into the window, or maybe she broke it and it didn't heal right, it's so hard to tell. She can still fly but not very well because her feathers aren't growing back.

 

[Tony K T]

It looks to me like she is missing the last joint in the wing.No other way it could of happened,someone cut it off.They can somewhat fly with wings flapping almost double what is normal,but not a long flight.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[DiamondSwan]

It looks to me like she is missing the last joint in the wing.No other way it could of happened,someone cut it off.They can somewhat fly with wings flapping almost double what is normal,but not a long flight.
In N.H.,Tony.

I'm pretty sure her joint wasn't purposely cut off. She lost her feathers when she smacked into the window and they havn't grown back since. The owners we got them from a couple years ago only mentioned that they're wings were clipped. They're feathers grew back and they were both able to fly until Rosie hurt herself.

 

[Tony K T]

I'm just saying the last joint looks to me like it is missing.
In N.H.,Tony.