Luca’s Sticking Out Feather

[ariella]

Luca is currently going through a moult and looking a real scruffbag but he has one feather that is sticking out and I’m concerned it could be painful and it is inhibiting him a little. I decided to move him into the spare cage so he can complete his moult in peace from Jasper and also because I worried it looked too tempting to the other buds and they might want to pull it. 
He is having Guardian Angel and a little cayenne in his water to help him and in case it is painful. I’m pretty sure it must be uncomfortable. 
I have no idea how he has done it; certainly not during his free flight time, so I can only surmise he’s somehow caught it in the cage. 
Is there anything else anyone could advise or do I just wait it out until he has finished his moult? 
He had a little fluff when I was taking the photos, so he doesn’t look like that all the time. He looks like a normal healthy moulting bird except for this feather. It also looks crimped down the side, which I definitely haven’t noticed until now but it seems some other feathers have the same effect around the edges. 
He’s eating and pooping as normal. 

[ffiscool]

It’s odd, but Bailey used to have some that stuck out. Hopefully it will just come out easily. maybe it was a bit caught and he pulled it?

[willowsmum]

Poor Luca. It does look like it might be sore if he catches it on something so maybe a bit of quiet time is best. Does it look like he's chewed through the shaft? Willow does that sometimes, eventually completely chewing through the shaft (although that may take a number of days to achieve) and the base of the feather is shed at a later date. I think for some reason he's trying to get rid of the feather before it's ready to be lost. Willow's feathers also have some crimping although it's only really noticeable once the feathers are moulted. Not sure what causes this though. Sorry I can't be more help.

[tweetiepiesmom]

It does look uncomfortable. Hopefully he'll shed it soon. Sorry I have no advice for you.

[Hezz]

It looks like he has tried to pull it himself. I feel the crimped look is a sign of older feathers, feathers that have been preened over and over. I could be wrong, but as been said you don’t notice them on the bird, only as dropped feathers.

[ariella]

Thanks willowsmum, tweetiepiesmom and Hezz , I will continue to leave him in the spare cage for the time being in the hope it’ll come out.
The strange thing is I haven’t seen him touch it once, but he certainly looks properly peed off about it!
I’m certain Jasper would get hold of it if she could, so I feel he’s best in the separate cage for the time being. I just hope it falls out sooner rather than later for him.
I feel reassured the crimping isn’t anything I should be worried about though. He certainly loves his fresh veggies so I knew it wasn’t due to a vitamin deficiency. Thank you all for responding.