Joined
·
60,707 Posts
Miserable Molts
FaeryBee (Deborah)
April 21, 2013
The duration, frequency and severity of a budgie's molt will vary from bird to bird. The bird's molt could last for one week or several.
All budgies go through molts - some seem to lose feathers continuously while others will molt a couple of times a year.
Spring and Fall are normal times for birds to molt.
Molting takes quite a physical toll on your budgie resulting in a need for additional protein, lots of tender loving care, and restful sleep.
To soothe the itching from growing pin-feathers and assist your budgie in preening out the growing feathers you can offer your budgie baths or spray mist showers.
A budgie should not be bred when it is molting as its energy and nutrition reserves are already depleted as a result of the molt.
You may find your molting budgie seems to be ill or "under the weather" during molts, for example: less active than normal, itchy, irritable and cranky.
The budgie may seem moody and biting is common.
In general, what is called the "baby molt" takes place at around three or four months old.
The budgie will lose the striped "baby bars: on top of his head at that time.
Mature budgies, will usually molt at least once a year and most normally, twice.
Additionally, budgies may have molts of the soft "secondary" feathers during prolonged periods of hot weather.
Occasionally a budgie may have an "EXTREME MOLT".
Extreme Molts sometimes occur if the bird's immune system is compromised, the bird is nutritionally deficient, the bird has been ill, or the bird recently experienced a traumatic event and/or is under a lot of stress.
Unfortunately, sometimes an Extreme Molt will occur even though there is no evident reason as to why.
An Extreme Molt can result in "bald" patches (especially on the top and sides of the head) with the skin looking very red and irritated which can be caused by the trauma of the bird scratching or rubbing the skin to the point that the blood feathers under the skin break.
Any bird going through an extreme molt is experiencing discomfort and may become depressed or even quite ill.
It is very important to provide additional high protein foods (e.g. Quinoa, hard boiled egg, and/or Harrison 's High Potency Mash) to your budgie during these times. Flax seed and Chia Seed are a great additions as well -- the oils target feathers and aid in nutrition.
You can also add raw unfiltered Apple CiderVinegar (ACV) ( ½ tsp per 1 liter water) to the budgies' drinking water as a means of boosting the immune system.
Nutritional supplements can be beneficial to your budgies during times of molting.
The following supplements are highly recommended by many individuals and can be obtained through various on-line bird supplement suppliers such as:
Flourish
Calciboost
AviBios Lactobacillus and Probiotic
Soluvite D
![]()
![]()
FaeryBee (Deborah)
April 21, 2013
The duration, frequency and severity of a budgie's molt will vary from bird to bird. The bird's molt could last for one week or several.
All budgies go through molts - some seem to lose feathers continuously while others will molt a couple of times a year.
Spring and Fall are normal times for birds to molt.
Molting takes quite a physical toll on your budgie resulting in a need for additional protein, lots of tender loving care, and restful sleep.
To soothe the itching from growing pin-feathers and assist your budgie in preening out the growing feathers you can offer your budgie baths or spray mist showers.
A budgie should not be bred when it is molting as its energy and nutrition reserves are already depleted as a result of the molt.
You may find your molting budgie seems to be ill or "under the weather" during molts, for example: less active than normal, itchy, irritable and cranky.
The budgie may seem moody and biting is common.
In general, what is called the "baby molt" takes place at around three or four months old.
The budgie will lose the striped "baby bars: on top of his head at that time.
Mature budgies, will usually molt at least once a year and most normally, twice.
Additionally, budgies may have molts of the soft "secondary" feathers during prolonged periods of hot weather.
Occasionally a budgie may have an "EXTREME MOLT".
Extreme Molts sometimes occur if the bird's immune system is compromised, the bird is nutritionally deficient, the bird has been ill, or the bird recently experienced a traumatic event and/or is under a lot of stress.
Unfortunately, sometimes an Extreme Molt will occur even though there is no evident reason as to why.
An Extreme Molt can result in "bald" patches (especially on the top and sides of the head) with the skin looking very red and irritated which can be caused by the trauma of the bird scratching or rubbing the skin to the point that the blood feathers under the skin break.
EXTREME MOLT
![]()
Any bird going through an extreme molt is experiencing discomfort and may become depressed or even quite ill.
It is very important to provide additional high protein foods (e.g. Quinoa, hard boiled egg, and/or Harrison 's High Potency Mash) to your budgie during these times. Flax seed and Chia Seed are a great additions as well -- the oils target feathers and aid in nutrition.
You can also add raw unfiltered Apple CiderVinegar (ACV) ( ½ tsp per 1 liter water) to the budgies' drinking water as a means of boosting the immune system.
Nutritional supplements can be beneficial to your budgies during times of molting.
The following supplements are highly recommended by many individuals and can be obtained through various on-line bird supplement suppliers such as:
Flourish
A blend of natural herbal ingredients that help to stimulate the bird's immune system, attack disease causing organisms and create a good environment in the gut for beneficial bacteria. Flourish can be used as a regular preventative or to support the bird's natural defenses during times of illness.
Calciboost
Calcium supplement for pet, breeding and growing birds. Add to food or water. Calcium deficiencies can lead to egg binding, feather plucking, increased nervousness and death. Provides the needed calcium, Magnesium and D3 in an easily absorbed form.
AviBios Lactobacillus and Probiotic
Probiotics provide beneficial bacteria and are a suggested for breeding, molting, nervous/stressed birds, and after antibiotic treatments.
Soluvite D
Provides essential vitamins and minerals, fortified with Vitamin D3 to promote health and breeding of birds housed indoors with limited exposure to sunlight that may result in Vitamin D Deficiency.
