So if i've read my stuff correctly, parrots moult about twice a year, correct? In the spring and fall? Because i'm moving to BC in June, and we will be having a WAY more bird friendly house, so i'm going to allow them to grow out their wings. Especially Indy, who I don't think the breeder ever let learn how to fly, because he has the worst landings.

Anyways, I was wondering if I might have missed the moult already, because after a while one moult just blends into another and I can't remember who has or hasn't. But Freddie is just starting to moult now, so I thought I might still be able to let them grow out.

Have I missed it?

Never mind, I just read an article stating that birds only regrow their flights every few years. Too bad.

Is that true?? I'm sure my guys grow theirs more than every few years. Can you post a link to the article?

I swear to you, my guys start growing their flights as soon as they are clipped! I just did Alex last week and 2 of the feathers are more than an inch long already. They have been in non stop moult and it crazy! I wish it was only twice a year!! I have feathers everywhere!!!

Ollie got her flights clipped by her breeder when she was 8.5 weeks old. She is now about a month short of 2 years old, and her wings look exactly the same as they did then- 21 months ago. She has lost a few of the clipped flights, but no new ones have grown back in yet.

I would also like to read that article Hayley!

Hi Camille that would be atypical, ime. But I"ve read of other Greys that have that problem on the free flight group. I'm not sure I ever read why though, I never paid much attention. But clipping her at 8 weeks was ridiculous of that breeder to do IMO.

Does she eat pellets 85% of her diet? Have you ever had bloods done? I would...see if she has any possible deficiencies.

A parrot will molt once a year end of summer going into fall. The biennial (every other year) is for some wild birds. A protracted molt means your birds are getting too much protein and you'd want to correct that. It's called a soft molt and it's stressful. Molting meaning if you see pin feathers.

If they are throwing feathers this time of year, without pin feathers like you see around the face during a true molt, it probably could be too dry not enough humidity, not a real molt.

I ran out of distilled water and didnt run my humidifier this week which started out at 40 -90 % humidity but changed to 28% and the Budgie room has some feathers on the floor. For the first time since last summer.

Some people say (including me) during a "real" molt, the yearly deal at the end of summer you WOULD want to offer more protein a bit, to feed the feathers that are made up of protein and maybe make it not such a drawn out stressful period of time. Sometimes a feather only needs a few days to grow out.

The seasons are spring-summer breed, end of summer -into fall molt, winter rest, getting ready to breed again.

You dont see a "healthy" bird molting in breeding season it's not biologically "normal" since they cant molt and raise babies simultaniously. They're only supposed to do one thing at a time depending on the season in nature. But in captivity they do the "wrong" thing in the "wrong" season from the environments they're in or the food. So it can always be corrected.

This is in the adult, for juveniles you see a juvie molt when they will change out the down and some contours. Around 5 months or so.

My juvenile birds who were clipped always regrew around months 5-7 during the juvie molt. I've heard a few breeds have the juvie molts later like 8-10 months I forget who, maybe Ekkies.

Here's the first link that came up, I dont know this guy but I browsed it and it seems right.

http://www.2ndchance.info/molt.htm

Hayley, if your bird(s) were never fledged properly or havent been able to fly for awhile they may have a more challenging time learning but a few rough landings or trouble judging distance is to be expected. Same with banging a couple of walls. But it's a learned skill. Indy may need some special help in the beginning meaning practicing with you, flying to you from a foot away, then two feet, then three feet, etc. Use food rewards or whatever he likes. Baby steps. I'd also say when you see bloodfeathers on any of them during this time I'd go easy on the flying deal, or put the cages in the center of the room or something so they dont bang the new growing blood feather.

You'll want to have someone show you how to pull on in case this happens which is normal if they bang it against say, a wall. Especially with multiple birds. Or at least for the Grey if you're scared have a plan for off hours of who is going to pull it they need to come out.

But when they are all regrown it shouldnt be an issue.

Just having the feathers doesnt mean they will master it right away so dont be freaked out. They have to learn hovering, u-turns, judging distance, landings, balance and alot of other skills that come with practice. But it's all worth it in the long run because they'll be healthier and happier, less paranoid and needy, IMO.

Just dont clip from now on, and this summer they should grow back. Except for the Parrotlet your birds are all heavy bodied birds and I dont expect they'll be balls of fire on wings anyway LOL. The Parrotlet should be the best flyer IME.

I don't know about flight feathers but when Sophie butt bounced her tail feathers off the breeder plucked them out so they could re grow back. Any time they get clipped it isn't long at all before the flights start growing back.

I can't specifically remember which article it was, but I know it was in the "Bird Safety" section of this board under "Wing Clipping."

I also know that it will take time for Indy to learn. Aree, not so much. She was clipped at around three months old, so she knows everything. Even now she tries to fly everywhere. It's actually rather depressing, seeing her fly from one side of the room to the other but not being able to lift off. I'm mostly doing it for protection, because i'm going to have a cat in the house in BC, and in case she somehow gets into one of the birds aviaries (highly unlikely, i'm going to make them maximum security) I want them to have some sort of escape plan. As soon as their flights grow out i'm going to start recall training. I'm excited to watch them!