Post by Marianne Marlow on Oct 11, 2011 14:52:59 GMT
Moulting and your budgies - By Stace
Birdkeepers often complain about the moulting season because of all the feathers in their aviaries – but spare a thought for the birds - the moult is a very demanding time.
What is moulting?
Budgies moult to replace old worn feathers with new ones. As well as feather loss, you’ll notice spiky “pin feathers” pushing through, especially on their head and neck. These are the new feathers, still covered in a temporary waxy sheath. Over time they will lose and replace all their feathers, including their wing and tail feathers, keeping enough to maintain flight.
Moulting does not cause large bald areas. (If you see balding, your bird may have feather mites, requiring application of ivermectin 0.1%.)
How often do budgies moult?
Your budgie’s first baby moult occurs at around three or four months old when they will lose their striped head bars. As adult birds, they will usually moult once a year, with soft moults of secondary feathers in hot weather.
The frequency, duration and severity of the moult, however, can vary from bird to bird and season to season. The process may last for one or many weeks.
Sometimes a moult can be triggered by a new diet, changes in the weather or their environment, and by stress or breeding.
Moulting and diet.
Growing feathers is an energy-intensive process, consuming a whooping 25% of the bird’s protein needs. This demand for energy means the birds must eat more food, particularly extra protein, to sustain new feather production and good health.
Pay extra care to provide a protein-rich, nutritious diet throughout the moult. A special moulting aid supplement can be useful.
Is my moulting budgie unwell?
As the moult saps the bird’s energy reserves, it may be less active than normal. The emerging pin feathers can also make them itchy, irritable – and a little cranky. Biting and moody behaviour is also more common, with both their owners and other birds.
On rare occasions, budgies can have what is called a “hard moult”. This is a severe moult and it can make them ill and depressed. Keep an eye on them, and make sure they are especially well looked after and well-fed at this time.
Extra care for your moulting budgie.
Budgies need extra fuel (especially protein), plenty of sleep and loads of tender loving care to help them through the moulting marathon. Baths or spray misting are also helpful. This soothes their itching and helps them preen out their growing new feathers.
You should not breed a budgie in moult as it places further demand on its already depleted energy and nutrient reserves.
On very rare occasions a severe or “hard moult” can make your budgie very ill, requiring recuperation in a hospital cage. We should all have a tub of “Guardian Angel” in our first aid box. This is a wonderful pick-me-up for any bird under the weather
Moulting in exhibition and pet birds.
Ouch!
A quality, high protein diet is important for big feather birds.
Bad hair day.
Images Courtesy of Stace, Marianne Marlow and Barrie Shutt
Birdkeepers often complain about the moulting season because of all the feathers in their aviaries – but spare a thought for the birds - the moult is a very demanding time.
What is moulting?
Budgies moult to replace old worn feathers with new ones. As well as feather loss, you’ll notice spiky “pin feathers” pushing through, especially on their head and neck. These are the new feathers, still covered in a temporary waxy sheath. Over time they will lose and replace all their feathers, including their wing and tail feathers, keeping enough to maintain flight.
Moulting does not cause large bald areas. (If you see balding, your bird may have feather mites, requiring application of ivermectin 0.1%.)
How often do budgies moult?
Your budgie’s first baby moult occurs at around three or four months old when they will lose their striped head bars. As adult birds, they will usually moult once a year, with soft moults of secondary feathers in hot weather.
The frequency, duration and severity of the moult, however, can vary from bird to bird and season to season. The process may last for one or many weeks.
Sometimes a moult can be triggered by a new diet, changes in the weather or their environment, and by stress or breeding.
Moulting and diet.
Growing feathers is an energy-intensive process, consuming a whooping 25% of the bird’s protein needs. This demand for energy means the birds must eat more food, particularly extra protein, to sustain new feather production and good health.
Pay extra care to provide a protein-rich, nutritious diet throughout the moult. A special moulting aid supplement can be useful.
Is my moulting budgie unwell?
As the moult saps the bird’s energy reserves, it may be less active than normal. The emerging pin feathers can also make them itchy, irritable – and a little cranky. Biting and moody behaviour is also more common, with both their owners and other birds.
On rare occasions, budgies can have what is called a “hard moult”. This is a severe moult and it can make them ill and depressed. Keep an eye on them, and make sure they are especially well looked after and well-fed at this time.
Extra care for your moulting budgie.
Budgies need extra fuel (especially protein), plenty of sleep and loads of tender loving care to help them through the moulting marathon. Baths or spray misting are also helpful. This soothes their itching and helps them preen out their growing new feathers.
You should not breed a budgie in moult as it places further demand on its already depleted energy and nutrient reserves.
On very rare occasions a severe or “hard moult” can make your budgie very ill, requiring recuperation in a hospital cage. We should all have a tub of “Guardian Angel” in our first aid box. This is a wonderful pick-me-up for any bird under the weather
Moulting in exhibition and pet birds.
Ouch!
A quality, high protein diet is important for big feather birds.
Bad hair day.
Images Courtesy of Stace, Marianne Marlow and Barrie Shutt
