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Stress Bars

By , About.com Guide

Here you can see several stress bars running across a bird's tailfeather.

(c) 2008 Alyson Burgess licensed to About.com, Inc.
Definition: A Stress bar is a name for the lines sometimes found running across the shaft of a bird's feather. Stress bars occur during feather development, and can be an indicator of a problem with the bird's environment, routine, or diet. If you notice stress bars on your bird, consult with an avian vet to try to figure out which factor is stressing your pet.
Examples: I saw a Conure at the pet shop that I wanted, but his plumage was full of stress bars.

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