pinfeather

New feather bud

A pinfeather is a developing feather still encased in its protective sheath, appearing as a small, pointed stub on a bird's skin.

These emerging feathers look like pins or quills before they unfurl.

Pinfeathers are common on young birds and on plucked poultry that wasn't fully cleaned: The chicken still had a few pinfeathers to remove.

anatomy

quill

Feather used for writing

shaftNarrow vertical passage
barbBackward-pointing spike
barbuleFeather barb's tiny branch

vane · calamus · rachis · follicle · papilla · keratin · sheath · hooklet · down · covert

development

fledgling

Inexperienced newcomer

chickYoung bird, especially poultry
nestlingUnfledged young bird
moltingPeriodic shedding of covering

growth · emerging · immature · juvenile · hatchling · downy · unfurling · blood supply · maturation · developing

texture

prickly

Spiny or irritable

stubbyShort and thick
waxyResembling paraffin's texture
tenderSoft or sore

fragile · emerging · spiky · rough · sharp · soft · delicate · bristly

grooming

preening

Grooming with vanity

pluckingRemoving by tugging
cleaningRemoving dirt and mess
oil glandOrgan secreting sebum

beak · scratching · zipping · smoothing · removal · epilation · tweezers · preparation

poultry

processing

Systematic operation on data

pluckingRemoving by tugging
singeingSuperficial burning
defeatheringRemoving plumage from poultry

preparation · game bird · waterfowl · dressed · scalding · cleaning · stubble · butchering · chicken · duck

Categories

feathersfeathers, plume, down feathers, quill, flight feathers

Opposites

developmental stage

pinfeatherflight feather

Wing plume for lift

contour feather · plume · breeding plumage · down feather

feather condition

pinfeatherdown feather

Soft bird underlayer

Family

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G