Thank you for your replies, Dizzy and Michael. I will look more carefully at the new feathers that have just come in to see if there are any fault bars or anything else wrong with them. They are definitely harmed when they are still attached to him (nobirdie else does it)... you can hear it when he flies. He's got one feather like that at the moment - the other side is whole.... for now. I will see if I can look at the "healthy" feathers more closely for fault bars. He's always been a fairly anxious bird at times... outdoor birds worry him, Bobbie worries him. No other feathers are harmed. I appreciate all the links too. Will read them tonight as I am rushing out the door very soon. xx