We got our budgie awhile back, his name is Broadway. We weren't going to clip his wings, but was told that it would be best if we did because it would make him more reliant on us. So we got them clipped but I always thought that they grew back... do they? Or does it just take a really long time?

he has to go through a molt to get his wing feathers back.... how old is your budgie? and when did he have his last molt.... the (now clipped) wing feathers will then be replaced by new, full feathers

The flight feathers do grow back and it might take awhile. But in the meantime you can reinforce training and things like that.

I'd love to see pictures of Broadway!

I would also love to see pictures of Broadway! Very cute name, BTW!

Well, I am not sure how old he is I got him from Petsmart and they never told me... And I am not sure when his last molt was... I do I tell? haha I am such a newie at this! sorry...

That's ok, we've all been new to this at some point!

Molts occur when birds naturally lose a lot of feathers over a period of 2 weeks to a month (give or take a week or two) - this usually happens a couple times a year, and some birds are growing new feathers in here and there all year around. You can tell when they are molting when you see a LOT of feathers in the cage bottom (more than just a few), and also when pin feathers are growing in. Pin feathers are the new feathers that are covered in a keratin sheath (a waxy-like covering). Pin feathers all start out as blood feathers and as they come in, the blood recedes and then the bird preens the sheath off to reveal the brand new feathers.

When birds are molting, it's a very irritating and itchy process. Your bird may be extra cranky and itchy at this time, and giving him frequent baths will help to relieve the irritation and itchiness, as well as help to loosen the keratin sheaths.

For a guestimate in age, are the bars on the forehead right next to the cere (nose holes), or are they further back? Baby budgies start out with the bars close together and up close to the cere. As they get older the bars start further back on their heads.

A bigger Molt will be evident from the amount of feathers on the bottom of the cage & of course the wonderful pin feathers just mentioned by Sarah.
We got Laker in the summer. He was going thru a molt then but the bigger Molt happened 3 months later in October. They will only loose a few flights each molt, not all of them & only about 1/2 of the tail feathers.

Post some photos if you can so we can see him.

Here's Laker when he was in the middle of his big molt showing his spiky head + some feathers he dropped.

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Thanks for explaining all that! So from that ... no... he has not had his molt yet! For his age if you look at the picture of the budgie that Homebird has that is probably about the same age as Broadway. I am going to try to post a picture from my phone... my camera got stolen so I have not been able to take a good picture of him. Hope this one turns out well!

Here is my beautiful boy!! [ATTACH]Picture045.jpg[/ATTACH]

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