As most of the lesions had not been noticed by the fanciers it was not possible to establish whether the damage to the skin came before or after the development of the cyst. These were multiple and long and narrow in shape, lying side by side with one cyst corresponding to the follicle of one primary feather. They contained cheesy material as in the other cysts but in a proportion, a very short malformed feather was protruding from the tip of the cyst. There was a very strong correlation between the first two types of cysts and marked buffness. Birds with this type of inherited plumage have a strong tendency to develop cysts.
Research suggests buff feathering is linked to feather problems.
There is no treatment for this condition other than surgical removal and it must be borne in mind that the birds will never regrow the feathers. It is probably not advisable to breed from birds with feather cysts or from their close relatives. Under this category we will look also at the absence of barbs and barbules, poorly formed barbs or barbules, and improperly shed sheaths. Stress marks are lines on the feathers where the barbules have not formed. Sometimes there is a line of weakness in the shaft at the same level, and the feather may break off at this point.