Question about molting

LAAnnie · Post by **LAAnnie** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 10:08 pm

Hi, all.

Does anyone know how often IRN's molt? How many feathers do they usually lose? My PeeGee is molting quite a bit right now (losing long tail feathers and those little fluffy feathers). She's also pretty crabby. How long does this go on?

Thanks -- I've had her for 2 years, but I think this is the worst molt she's had. And those beautiful tail feathers take a long time to grow back. I save them for decorations!

Anne

Mikaela · Post by **Mikaela** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:17 am

There are no real answers hun, as I too am struggling with a molt. Alot of us are. I am attributing it to the very hot weather here in the US this yr.

I can think of 7 members, me included, that have beautiful birds. Right now, they all look awful... like there is no way they will ever be *that* pretty again. Fact is, they will be and then some.

When Baby lost his tail feathers is when I got really upset. They are growing out now. This moult has lasted since APRIL... yes, April. Started really fast then has creeped since.

Normally this time frame would freak me out but it seems to be the going rate this year so Im not sweating it. You dont either. Colder weather will come and he will want to keep dat azz warm and he'll grow some feathers. :lol:

Dani03 · Post by **Dani03** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:55 am

Yep Prinny is moulting something fierce! She looks terrible and I swear I think she is done and more come out...

Dani

xo Missi · Post by **xo Missi** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:56 am

I was fixing to post a new topic when I logged in, but I'll ask here since its the same topic. Baby is supposedly only 4-5 months old. He looses 7-10 feathers a day (hasn't lost any tail or larger feathers yet). Is this okay for a bird his age?

Also, he starting to get a bit snappy, I'm assuming he is starting bluffing?

My lil boy is maturing so quick! :cry:

Dani03 · Post by **Dani03** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:05 am

He's going through the 'baby' moult...they wont loose the bigger feathers (IE flight or tail) until the 1 year mark...atleast that's how Prinny was

Dani

xo Missi · Post by **xo Missi** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:17 am

Dani03 wrote:He's going through the 'baby' moult...they wont loose the bigger feathers (IE flight or tail) until the 1 year mark...atleast that's how Prinny was

Dani

Okay, so there is a "baby moult". Do they constantly shead feathers, though? Maybe just as they're babies and it slows after their first big moult?

Mikaela · Post by **Mikaela** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 3:52 pm

Exactly what Dani said.

I call it a mini-moult. They look like their feathers are stuck together, as if they have food on their head. They look a little spiney and all around crappy.

They dont lose much during this one. The next one is awful. They look so bad one thinks 'noway my bird can ever look good again'. Moult ends and emerges a beautiful ringneck.

As far as looks, it gets worse before it gets better and the upside of it looking really bad is it is further along.

~*Gwennie*~ · Post by **~*Gwennie*~** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 6:00 pm

Lou's just getting done with his he was soooo cranky, it was pretty frustrating. I don't think he's ever been that cranky while moulting.

Donna · Post by **Donna** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 7:25 pm

Has anyone heard of using 100%aloe juice? I mix 50%water and 50% aloe juice in a spray bottle and spay everybody down once a week with it. and I also use a drop or two in their drinking water once a month. Good source of calcium. When sprayed on them it helps the itching while their molting and their not dso crabby. Donna P.S. You can buy the aloe juice at Walmart in the pharmacy.

schotzie48 · Post by **schotzie48** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:25 pm

I hadn't heard of the aloe juice, but will give it a try. I usually just take Pickle with me to the shower, or put him in the sink with a little water and he runs around flapping his wings....to funny! But, he is moulting and i have big and little feathers everywhere...looks like a bird blew up in my living room...HA!HA! They do go back to being beautiful!

sovereign · Post by **sovereign** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:26 pm

Dani03 wrote:He's going through the 'baby' moult...they wont loose the bigger feathers (IE flight or tail) until the 1 year mark...atleast that's how Prinny was

Dani

Seppo's first moult has begun (6 month old), but he has already lost his two longest tail feathers and two shorter. Is that normal? He looks so akward with his short tail :roll:

Post by **ringneck** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:05 am

They molt twice a year andthe feathers are cycled out.

Hope this helps,

Imran Chaudhry

savannahhorse · Post by **savannahhorse** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 8:37 pm

This question is gonna make me sound stupid but here goes....do they molt yearly? Honey is 3, will she also molt. She loses these little white feathers....but she is a buttercup or mustard color not white anywhere...

kimtoo · Post by **kimtoo** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:08 am

there are no stupid questions...yes, your bird will molt every year for it's entire lifespan