A troublesome feather

For about 3 days last month, Dalai had a very troublesome feather.

It is likely that the wing feather suffered a break in the shaft, near the base.  How the break happened, I do not know.  All I know is that Dalai spent the best part of 3 days trying to sort it out.  The feather clearly was not ready to be pulled out (I had the flour ready to stem any blood loss!) & was not ready to fall out.  The only option left was to break it in two.  Because of the break, the feather would dangle lower than the others.  Dalai spent simply ages gnawing it & as he progressed, the feather became more & more vulnerable & more & more prone to sticking out at strange angles.  Finally on the third day, he managed to release it.  He must have been so pleased to get rid of that troublesome feather.

Dalai’s feather is out of place

Dalai sorting out his troublesome feather

Close-up of Dalai chewing on end of troublesome feather

Dalai’s feather sticking upwards

Dalai’s feather sticking out & Lennie nearby

Dalai trying to break off troublesome feather with Lennie watching

Dalai and troublesome feather

Dalai on playgym with Lennie, with feather sticking out

Here is the offending feather:

Troublesome wing feather

Mangled end of troublesome feather