Molting

11-05-2007, 06:58 AM

Hello there my macaw friends!

Ruby has been molting for 3 months. I thought she was about done but last week she got some new pin feathers on her head and I am not here if last night she didn't lose her bigest newly grown in tail feather. What in the world!
HEEEEEEEEEEEELP!

thanks in advance!!!
Jessalyn and Ruby

11-05-2007, 06:58 AM

Oh yes, she turned a year in July.

Jessalyn

11-05-2007, 07:05 AM

no info from me sorry as i am dealing with minor molt from keets..

11-05-2007, 08:03 AM

Four out of my five are molting...WHAT A MESS!

11-05-2007, 09:12 AM

Three months may be a little long but I think it is molting season now in the northern hemisphere. Too much protein can cause a molt. Can it be she had a diet change 3 months ago and now this is the real molt?

11-05-2007, 09:16 AM

Hi Angie! Thanks for replying. She loves meat! I feel kind of weird about that but she gets a little piece of chicken or steak or whatever at our dinner each night. Should I not do that? oh dear!
Jessalyn and Ruby

11-05-2007, 01:45 PM

Hi Jessalyn,
Winston my Alex moults for three to four months once a year. I think the head is the last to moult,after wings and tails. I am not sure about losing the new tail feather ?? He managed to keep his long tail feathers intact this year. Winston loves meat too, and chicken bones. He has even run off with a whole pork chop and raw cats meat !! which I had to take off him.

11-05-2007, 02:02 PM

Jessalyn I don't know how much meat is ok. Some will come and say to give none, but it all honesty parrots are opportunistic and will eat meat in the wild. I do share meat with my birds but not everyday. Even nuts can have too much protein and makes the bird molt in the wrong season. This is called a soft molt and it is more pin feathers appearing without losing feathers first. I am not sure I have explained myself well but somebody is sure to jump in. To get an idea if something is too much multiply by about 50-60 (large macaw) and if that amount is too much for you it is way too much for your bird. Basically 1 hamburger patty is way too much since you will get sick if you eat 60 of them.

Too cute Chrissy, I can just picture a whole pork chop, must have been funny to watch.

11-05-2007, 06:17 PM

Thanks so much ya'll!! A whole pork chop! That's some bird!! cute

Jessalyn and Ruby