My bird's moult hasn't finished even after 2 months. (UPDATED!)

[KingaRoo]

(NOVEMBER, 2022)
So, It's been about 2 months since I first got Kingsley. My pineapple green cheek conure. I got him on August 24th, 2022. When I got him he already had pin feathers sprouting from his head. And his wings were clipped before he was in the pet shop. Which is why I was excited that he was already moulting so his flight feathers would come in fast so he would be able to fly around sooner rather then later. I was told that he was about 8 months when i got him and it's been 2 months since then. So he'd be 10 months old by now.

I've done a lot of research online and it says that the moult should only last for about 1-2 months? There are still a lot of pin feathers on the top of his head and there's no sign of his new feathers coming in on his wings.

I would like to ask that bird owners that are more experienced then me comment on this thread and shed some light on this endeavor.

Thanks,
-Kingsley's Caretaker

UPDATE(5/6/2024):

I can't believe I've had Kingsley for over a year now! Best year of my LIFE. He's sitting on my shoulder right now, with his flight feathers in. Never to be clipped again! (As long as he hopefully never develops any lasting health issues that may call for it.)

He's been enjoying flying around with the rest of my flock, He's made good friends with my budgie. I can tell he's not as reliant on flying as my "never been clipped" birds. But He's pretty excited about the fact he can just fly to me instead of having to wait for me to come get him.

His flight feathers came in around the 6 month mark, I believe. Thank you to everyone who was so kind and helpful and gave me good tips and reassurances. I love the birdkeeper community! <3

Thanks,
-Kingsley's Keeper
(Attatched below is a picture of Kingsley before his flight feathers came in(December 2022), and one I took just now. Kingsley with his beautiful blue flight feathers!)

 

[bonitabird59]

my gcc just finished his molt maybe last week (still has some big pins but for the most part isnt hedgehoggy anymore) and it started in july i believe the first molt lasts the longest

 

[KingaRoo]

my gcc just finished his molt maybe last week (still has some big pins but for the most part isnt hedgehoggy anymore) and it started in july i believe the first molt lasts the longest

Thank you this helps a lot! I was worried something might be wrong which is why I came on here.

 

[HeatherG]

Birds will replace the small contour feathers all year long, not just during a molt. It’s the feathers involved in flight that are replaced at a scheduled time.

So you will see little pins all year, maybe more during the molt. This is totally normal.

 

[KingaRoo]

Birds will replace the small contour feathers all year long, not just during a molt. It’s the feathers involved in flight that are replaced at a scheduled time.

So you will see little pins all year, maybe more during the molt. This is totally normal.

Oh, okay. I do see a LOT of pin feathers on his head. Definately more than 10 on his head. I used to see some on his belly but I dont see them much anymore. Could this be because he's not actually molting or is he actually molting?

 

[Jexnell]

If he is dropping wing and tail feathers then it's a molt. If just body feathers are dropping then it's not a molt

 

[ravvlet]

Kirby was with us for two years before he molted his clipped wing feathers - and then he did them all at once! We are in the PNW in the US and I swear he molted from January to May. I have so many of his feathers in little vases around the house.

Waiting for our second amazon to do a similar big molt; she isn’t clipped but she has chewing and damage. Kirby looks so GOOD now with his new feathers and I can’t wait to see that for Sammy.

Sometimes they take a while. If nothing else is abnormal I’d say it’s just a really long jolt! Try to help them be comfy and work those pin feathers if they can’t reach them themselves.

 

[KingaRoo]

Oh, I see. Kingsley has dropped 2 wing feathers so far just not his flight feathers. Not entirely sure if they fell out because he fell on them wrong or because of the moult.

I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks for the help.

It seems that from the information and time tables some of you have given me that a birds first moult is able to last about 4 months? I guess that helps a lot and eases some of my worries for Kingsley's health. Thanks a lot.

 

[Cottonoid]

My ringneck was plucked naked when he molted last summer - ALL his feathers came in at once poor guy and it took almost 3 months for them all to break through skin and pins - and then his tail and wing feathers kept growing for another couple months!

 

[Laurasea]

it can take awhile. You will see dropped large feathers, often the new one is already half way in when you find a dropped primary or tail. They spread those out do as nit to loose flight.

Afree head feathers seem to get replaced a lot year round.

 

[KingaRoo]

Hey you guys, it's been 5 months since I adopted kingsley and unfortunately he still does not have is flight feathers in yet. :C I have already started some hop training though and he loves doing that. So hopefully that will prepare him for when his flights do come in

 

[Laurasea]

Id feed a little boiled egg like a spoonful 3x a week. Because I think Xtra protein needed for molts. And Bet this spring will finally be flight feathers!!! Any time now!
Time for a picture too!

 

[KingaRoo]

Id feed a little boiled egg like a spoonful 3x a week. Because I think Xtra protein needed for molts. And Bet this spring will finally be flight feathers!!! Any time now!
Time for a picture too!

Is there any other way for the extra protien other than eggs? According to the bird only vet I know eggs aren't actually good for birds. And I agree that eggs might actually not be good for our feathered friends.

So do you know of any other way?

 

[onamom]

I’ve had Ona home for six months and her flight feathers still aren’t all the way in. She’s grown a couple of primaries out but has lost or broken most of them with rough landings and just being hard on her feathers. She now has one big flight feather only on one side and a bunch of smaller ones still growing. It does seem to take forever.

 

[KingaRoo]

I’ve had Ona home for six months and her flight feathers still aren’t all the way in. She’s grown a couple of primaries out but has lost or broken most of them with rough landings and just being hard on her feathers. She now has one big flight feather only on one side and a bunch of smaller ones still growing. It does seem to take forever.

Yeah it seems to take forever when all you really want for your feathered friend is for them to be able to do what years of evolution has given them the ability to do. I'm just so exited to teach him how to fly and all of the things he should have been able to do right from the start.

 

[Laurasea]

Is there any other way for the extra protien other than eggs? According to the bird only vet I know eggs aren't actually good for birds. And I agree that eggs might actually not be good for our feathered friends.

So do you know of any other way?

I stand by a small amount of egg as an excellent source of animal protein and some vitamins. I give about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon 3 times a week. My parrots also are flighted and active . With fresh veggies being half their daily diet.

Most of our parrots species would be getting some animal proteins in their diets from insects, grubs, little vertebrates, and even carion. But it's not safe to use commercial or self caught bugs, meal worms ect ..they can have pathogen bacteria and parasites. Data on that is out there for searching

You can offer a little boiled chicken, some people offer a little cooked fish.

In this link you can see a discussion. With a person and them reporting a vet thinking link to plaque build up. The thoughtful reply, reply about not established science studies and links. But definitely established link with lack of exercise . Then I will link the pro egg

Feeding eggs to parrots. – Lafeber® Pet Birds

I saw on a post on the website by a person named BRENDA that she approved the feeding of eggs to parrots. Now, to my knowledge that is dangerous. Veterinarians now are NOT recommending eggs due to parrots dying from STROKES because they were routinely fed eggs. My present avian vet, Dr. Paul...

lafeber.com

Pro egg

https://blog.parrotessentials.co.uk/can-parrots-eat-boiled-eggs/

 

[Laurasea]

Molts put a heavy stress on birds
Post in thread 'Ornithology: Share and discuss scientific articles on parrots!' https://www.parrotforums.com/thread...entific-articles-on-parrots.82369/post-837928

 

[KingaRoo]

UPDATE(5/6/2024):

I can't believe I've had Kingsley for over a year now! Best year of my LIFE. He's sitting on my shoulder right now, with his flight feathers in. Never to be clipped again! (As long as he hopefully never develops any lasting health issues that may call for it.)

He's been enjoying flying around with the rest of my flock, He's made good friends with my budgie. I can tell he's not as reliant on flying as my "never been clipped" birds. But He's pretty excited about the fact he can just fly to me instead of having to wait for me to come git it.

His flight feathers came in around the 6 month mark, I believe. Thank you to everyone who was so kind and helpful and gave me good tips and reassurances. I love the birdkeeper community! <3

Thanks,
-Kingsley's Keeper
(Attatched below is a picture of Kingsley before his flight feathers came in(December 2022), and one I took just now. Kingsley with his beautiful blue flight feathers!)

UPDATED: