Tonight quite late I came home, put on the lights, and sat down to check the email. Presently I looked up beside me and there I saw Lynnie, the new Lineolated Parakeet, holding one of his own feathers in his foot and nibbling the quill end.
I've heard birds will play with their own feathers but I was none-the-less horrified! He already seems to eat his own poop

off the grate. Is he going to start pulling and playing with his own feathers?

Or is this a normal thing that should not worry me? Of note, he is doing a little bit of molting, and I'm sure it is really molting because I see pin feathers on his head.
It was quite a shock, but still a really cute sight to see.....

Quick, somebody reassure me!