How to handle budgie pin feathers if my bird won't let me groom?

Those look like they may be pin feathers growing out, especially if Maui is molting. Pin feathers are pin-looking like feathers that are the new feathers that grow in as the old ones fall out. They look like little needles poking out of the skin, and once erupted enough will fan out into a regular feather. Pin feathers are 100% normal!

The other bird could indeed be preening her excessively. It is possible she could be starting a milt also. Monitor her for feather loss in other areas. Ideally, she should be examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian vet to diagnose and treat any medical causes. If medical causes are ruled out, you will need to address behavioral causes such as stress or boredom. If the behavior persists and you confirm the other bird as the culprit, you may need to separate them temporarily. Don't worry, they can be caged next to one another. Feathers will grow back wrapped in a sheath. These are called pinfeathers. The sheath will be removed by preening and the feather will unfurl. You can bathe or mist them once or twice a week with warm water to promote preening and healthy plumage.

Thanks for the pictures. This is concerning about Yusuf. I would probably recommend you seek an avian veterinarian. Two of the concerns I have are for viral diseases (avian polyoma virus {called budgie fledgling disease] and Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease). The later can change the feathers where they appear "pinched" at the base, which I think I see in the picture. An avian veterinarian should be able to test for these. Nutritional deficiences, specifically low protein, can affect feather growth. Good Luck.

Thanks for reaching out about your lovebird. New feathers can have keratin sheaths that are groomed off by the bird to allow new feathers to open. On top of the head and neck are areas difficult to reach, and usually other birds groom this area for them. If he will allow, gently roll the "pin feather" between your fingers to loosen the keratin. Good luck.

Harry could be molting, which is a normal thing that occurs about once or twice a year. This is when your bird loses their feathers and then replaces them with new ones. You can check if this is the case by looking for "pin" feathers, or what looks like little pins growing out of the skin (these are the new feathers coming in). Other things to look for include making sure Harry is on a balanced diet, and checking for mites or other skin issues that can also cause feather loss.

It is possible Penny is molting. This is normal and is the process of losing old feathers while new ones grow in. You may see pin feathers, or small feathers that look like little pins sticking out of the skin as they grow. It often looks like a mess because some birds tend to lose a lot of feathers all at once, while others have a slower, gradual molt. As long as she is otherwise healthy and active, making sure she is on a balanced diet to ensure good feather growth is best. If she seems ill or new feathers are not growing in, it could indicate she is ill, has some mites, or another skin condition which should be checked out by a vet.

The pictures are really blurry so it's hard to see, but if you're seeing round cylinder-like feathers protruding from the skin that is likely a pin feather. This is a normal feather that is growing back in after the old one is lost. If your bird recently lost a lot of feathers and is now growing them back, they likely were molting, which is normal! This is just the normal replacement of old feathers with new ones. If Sheephony seems cold, moving them to a warmer location until their feathers have regrown can help.