Molting?

[Abzeez]

Just wondering what special things, if any, people do when a parrot molts. My poor old man, Chico, started about a week ago. I boiled him up an egg and gave that to him. Also gave him a few baths. Any of thoughts?

He is having some major P.M.S.(Parrot Molting Syndrome) as well. Very crabby little guy. The hardest thing for me to watch is when the pin feathers come in. He doesn't really like to be touched to much, and will not allow me to help groom him.

Thanks.

 

[Pedro]

I for one don't have any issues at all with any of my parrots as they go through their molt. It's the most natural thing for a parrot to go through. So i really can't understand why carers do. However i do know when the pins emerge I try to handle them with care as if I accidently push or brush against a pin feather they will let out a cry, especially the very young baby birds when their pins are coming through. With the older birds a daily bath is all that is required & a well balanced diet that your birds should already be on. To be honest they don't really need any special care at all when molting.

Some of my eclectus go through a mojo molt & even that doesn't turn them into crabby birds.

 

[merlinsmom13]

I have never noticed a dramatic molt for Merlin. He looses wing & tail feathers, & he always seems to have feathers coming in on his head & neck. Is this something that conures do?

 

[Pedro]

Yes that is normal for conures. They seem to have pins on their head & neck about twice a year. First molt at about 5 or 6 months of age.

Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Weather The Feathers....Molting in pet parrots and exotic birds - Birds, Birds, Birds

Have a little read of the link it explains a lot. I guess the reason i don't find my parrots get moody when going through a molt, i don't handle them a lot & just let them take care of their own feathers.

 

[mtdoramike]

Tell me about it, my Sennie Tiki is getting a little irratable too. If I'm petting her or scratching her neck and hit a pin feather, she swings around and latches onto my finger until I push my finger into her while she is biting and scold her. She will climb back onto my arm a few minutes later with a guilty but I'm sorry look and want another neck rub.

 

[Abzeez]

My amazon doesn't have any issues with molting. Chico, the ringneck on the otherhand does. He is a very unhappy guy when this happens. He doesn't like to come out of his cage, and when he does he usually climbs up the curtain and hangs out on the curtain rod, which he never does normally. I think he just wants to let us know, that he wants to be left alone. Guess I was just looking for some tips people had to help ease this process.

 

[MikeyTN]

I don't give rubs on any part of their body that's growing in new feathers. I don't take the risk in puncturing it, cause once it's punctured open, you must remove the blood feather. Mine's done it during flight, I don't even let them fly during molting....Except Gracie, that bird don't care, she runs over me any chance she gets....Rotten brat!!!!

 

[suebee]

nuts molt seems to be lasting forever!!! i did think it'll be over soon, but just like merlin, more flight an tail feathers are droppin off an coming through so nut is not look to moth eaten now

as for handling her, its always been her choice really, its not made her more or less moody, but if i hit a pin, i get a very gentle clamp of beak or she'll shake her head

every time she grooms herself she leaves a little dust pile for me to brush up