pinfeathers

Immature bird feathers

Pinfeathers are the developing feathers on a bird, still encased in their protective keratin sheaths.

They appear as short, pointed tubes emerging from the skin before the feather unfurls.

The term applies especially to young birds or molting adults: The chick was covered in pinfeathers.

Plucking pinfeathers from poultry requires extra care since they're firmly rooted.

development

emerging

Coming into view

immatureNot fully developed
juvenileYoung person or animal
nestlingUnfledged young bird

chick · hatchling · fledgling · downy · unfledged · callow · growth · maturation · keratin · follicle

anatomy

shaft

Narrow vertical passage

barbsSharp points or jibes
vaneWind direction indicator
quillFeather used for writing

rachis · sheath · calamus · pulp · down · contour · coverts · bristle · plumage

plucking

remove

Take something away

extractConcentrated derived substance
tweezersPincerlike gripping instrument
forcepsMedical grasping instrument

painful · tender · sensitive · bleeding · follicle · bare · skin · irritation · harvest · processing

preening

grooming

Self-care for appearance

cleaningRemoving dirt and mess
nibblingEating in small bites
beakHorny avian mouthpart

scratching · maintenance · smoothing · arranging

molting

shedding

Losing outer covering

regrowthGrowing back again
postnuptialFollowing a marriage ceremony
eclipseCelestial body blocks another

replacement · seasonal · transitional

Categories

feathersplume, quill, rachis, down, vane
bird anatomybeak, wings, bill, crest, flanks
meat defectsbruising, discoloration, off odor, spoilage, freezer burn
bird breedingegg, nest, hatch, chick, hatching

Opposites

feather maturity/development

pinfeathersflight feathers

Bird's main wing plumes

contour feathers · breeding plumage · primaries · secondaries · down feathers

Family

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