Unusually long molt?

[Pansexualpuns]

So!! Back in February I adopted my first bird, a black capped conure. Hes around 8-9 years old (hatched 2009, no exact date) and has been molting for what seems like FOREVER.

I got him mid February, and discovered that he was on a seed only diet with only the occasional fruit for supplement, no veggies. Obviously I've since switched him to pellets (a 50/50 mix of zupreme and Tropican) along with as many veggies as I can trick him into eating, mainly bell pepper. He also didnt have a cuttlebone or Millet. Hes still iffy on the cuttlebone but absolutely loves millet!! He took to eating pellets surprisingly well, and was pretty much fully switched over by March.

Unsurprisingly he started molting soon after, with such a terrible diet I'm not sure when his last molt even WAS. Hes got some feathers in pretty ratty conditions. Hes been in a semi steady molt for about 5 months now!! Is this due to his age? The very terrible diet combined with age??? I'm starting to worry. I knew it was going to be a bit longer than your average, but this is getting a little ridiculous!!

The only other thing I can chalk it up to is he also had ten feathers clipped on both his wings. (Yes, I know, dont even get me started) so the fact he has to grow in secondaries might also prolong the molt. A combination of all the factors maybe? If it goes on for much longer I'll likely be taking him for another vet trip, but I dont want to put him through a stressful situation like that for no reason. Other than this, hes perfectly healthy and happy (although grumpy due to his molt). No plucking or over preening. How long is a conures molt generally supposed to last??

Any suggestions on how to speed it up??? He already has a UVB bulb and occasionally gets prime sprinkled on his fruits and veggies.

Ps. His name is theo

 

[Ephy]

Although my Kiwi is not a parrot, he went through a very long molt period that made me worried.

I did the same thing as you changed his diet, introduced more veggies, bits of hard boiled eggs, egg shells, and changed his seed. He doesnt love pellets but will snack on them.

What i think really helped was calendula flower tea. I would brew a large cup of the tea, let cool and offer it to him in a dish for his baths. He would drink it and take his baths in it and i quickly saw improvement.

The air in the apartment was really dry at the time, and poor Kiwi's skin was suffering. I also picked up a cold water humidifier and left the bathroom door open during showers to help increase the humidity.

Probably not the same issue, but perhaps calendula tea would provide some benefit? Good luck I know it can be stressfull when they molt

He's really cute! ��

 

[SailBoat]

There are a couple of factors that have come together to form a perfect storm of what seems like a forever molt.

The first is easy to understand: The change in diet. This single item has resulted in major changes in the energy stores in your Parrot's body. Once that is filled and the body senses this was more than a moment in time, the body will begin molting feathers that may have been on-hold for an extended time. This molt is driven to replace Primary Flight Feathers across all flight surfaces at a faster rate than normal.

The second is supported by the first: With the very cold and extended Winter, the Spring molt started later than normal and this twice a year molt of body feathers became extensive and over an extended time as the Heat of this Summer across North America built. Now as Summer begins to transition into Fall. The normal Fall molt begins in preparation for Winter and Mating Season. This Fall molt will likely be near as heavy as your Parrot is much healthier and will be targeting a set of feathers that will clearly state: I am Healthy and Ready!

Enjoy!