Molting

[driven]

Levi hasn't started molting yet, but I'm just wondering what to do when this happens? I saw some kind of somethin at the pet store that is supposed to help with the stress of molting. Does this stuff really work and is it ok for them? I think it is something you put intheir food? Not sure...

[chapala]

I wouldn't buy a product from the pet store to help with molting. They need a good diet all the time, slightly more protein (to make all those new feathers) when molting, and a good, varied diet all the time with plenty of fresh vegetables, a little fruit, grains and legumes, plus a little seed and natural supplements. Harrison's pellets (Lifetime) are fine too as a smaller part of the diet.

[skthurley]

Jack and Callie are both molting right now. I have doubled the amount of sprouted seed/grains and legumes in their diet to increase their proteins, and also give them both daily mistings.... and let them deal with one another's pin feathers

[chapala]

You also could feed the regular diet with a very small amount, like 1/4 tsp., plain yogurt, preferably non-fat, a couple of times a week for added protein. Best would be Stonyfield yogurt with D3 added.

[AcxiDenTe]

On a side note, how often do they usually lose like.. down feathers if they're not molting? Or do they only lose feathers if they're molting? She seems to lose 3 or 4 a day that I notice.

[chapala]

Losing down feathers seem to be more or less continuous with our birds, not a lot at once except at the molt, but usually a few every day.

[skthurley]

Before he was molting, Jack would love two or three every day when he preened himself. He would preen and preen and preen... then give himself a really hard shake and two or two little downy feathers usually fluffed out. No biggie. Now that he's molting, it's a lot more... and not just the downy feathers but other ones as well

[AcxiDenTe]

Okies, good to know, then I'd say my Edy hasn't had a molt yet, but I do see a few pin feathers, so she's a bit cranky as of late hehe.