"second" first moult?

[bubs7]

Hello again guys!

This might sound strange but it seems like Toni is going trough a second first moult? I know they have their first moult when their 3-4 months old. When I bought her when she was 12 weeks I think she had just started to moult because she still had pin-feathers up till a few weeks ago and lost a numerous of feathers. She's now 20 weeks old, and the other day I noticed a few new pin-feathersagain and have also started to drop quite a lot of small feathers. She still eats and drinks like normal, maybe a little less noisy but otherwise like normal.

Was her molt never finished or is it something else?

[Moogie]

Hi Bubs
Im no expert atall but my elf seems to have quite a few moults,just getting through one now and im wondering it maybe due to having the heating on,maybe its the same for your little one?
Some one will be able to help you out more im sure
I do remember Barrie saying what do we do when we get hot-take our jumper or coat of and thats what the budgies do just with feathers x

[bubs7]

Moogie, that makes a lot of sense. Problem with our flat is that we have storage heaters, we try to keep an even temperature but its pretty much impossible. Do you think it might have any effect on her?

[BudgiesBuddy]

Some budgies molt more heavily than others. It is normal

[Moogie]

i really cant say as Elf is my first ever budgie so still learning myself but im sure later on some one will give you that answer...
BB knows an awful lot about budgies so if he says its normal i would not worry

[Hezz]

I wouldn't worry about it, Bubs. I have noticed the difference with my guys and the amount of moulting individuals do. Some seem to be almost nonstop, others have definite "seasons" for want of a better word. The heating could also be contributing to this as well.

I would be worried about the amount of moulting you see is if you start to notice bald patches. Budgies seem adept at shedding feathers without losing coverage, so bald patches to me would indicate something isn't right.

[bubs7]

Thanks guys!

No there's no bald patches, she's green so only thing is that some of the white feathers underneath can "stick out" after she's been jumping around or preened herself. The pin feathers are very few and very short, and she eats and drink as normal. If anything maybe a little bit quieter but that's all. It makes sense with the heating, I will keep an eye on her. Is there anything particular I can do to make her more comfortable?

[Moogie]

moulting is tiring for them hence why she is prob a bit quieter ..
I get a spray bottle (Just for the use on Elfie) and give him a light spray down with warm water and in the morning so he has time to dry off

[bubs7]

Thanks moogie, I will try that. Have a birdbath but all she does is trying to chew down the plastic edges lol

[stace]

I've had some seasons where the moult was done in one big moult just once in the year. Other times, it's been a number of smaller moults that seem to stop and start over several months, and I've wondered when it would end. The single big moults seems to be more severe.

[Hezz]

The only other thing that can help while they are growing new feathers is a little egg or dry eggfood, to provide them with a little extra protein. Feather growth takes up a lot of their energy and this is why they can be a little quieter or even sometimes a little more cranky than normal. If you decide to give Toni an egg (yolk is where all the goodness is) just hard boil it for at least 10 minutes, cool and mash up. Most seem to like it. Or a little dries eggfood sprinkled over their seed is often appreciated too.