At what age do they molt?

[wildheart]

I've been googling this question for so long and I cant really find the answer.

When do ringnecks molt and how often? What is the first signs?

Thanks.

 

[Spiritbird]

Hi ther WH. Hope all is well with your and your critters. For the ringnecks they may start to molt about 7 months of age and it may go into the first year. Molting is a rather long process for the birds. Hope this helps.

 

[wildheart]

Small white fluff comes of her when she flaps her wings etc., is this the beginning or just normal? If she does not molt then I suppose she is old?

 

[Spiritbird]

That small white fluff is normal shedding so to speak. It comes off easily with preening. When you notice feathers in the bottom of the cage and the growth of pin feathers that is a sure sign bird is molting. After the first molt it is usually a yearly event. They can be a bit testy during this time. I imagine the growth of all the pin feathers is quite irritating to them. We can help the process along by rolling the head pin feathers between our fingers when they appear drying out. I often got nipped when I helped Rosie with this.

 

[wildheart]

I am glad it happens once a year, that means she can get rid of all the broken tail feathers and stress lines!

 

[Birdamor]

OK, let's clarify that a little. Birds born in the spring (when they are supposed to) get their juvenile moult (changing only the contour feathers and down) around the end of the summer but, if they are born off-season, they get it when they are six months of age, more or less. After that, they get one annual molt that lasts about 8 weeks if they are kept under a strict solar schedule and an adequate diet but they can moult for months and months or more than once a year if not. Usually, captive birds go through a full molt about this time of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere) and a partial one a couple of weeks after the winter solstice.

 

[DarkMbs]

OK, let's clarify that a little. Birds born in the spring (when they are supposed to) get their juvenile moult (changing only the contour feathers and down) around the end of the summer but, if they are born off-season, they get it when they are six months of age, more or less. After that, they get one annual molt that lasts about 8 weeks if they are kept under a strict solar schedule and an adequate diet but they can moult for months and months or more than once a year if not. Usually, captive birds go through a full molt about this time of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere) and a partial one a couple of weeks after the winter solstice.

My ring neck was born in February and right now he is six months old and he is moulting. I can feel the pinned feathers around his head and neck. He is in a little angry mood right now. Whenever i give him little rubs on his head he tends to enjoy it for a bit then he gets pissed off. Can someone help me, how do i deal with this like what sort of food should i give him and how long will it take to get back to normal?

 

[MissMac]

OK, let's clarify that a little. Birds born in the spring (when they are supposed to) get their juvenile moult (changing only the contour feathers and down) around the end of the summer but, if they are born off-season, they get it when they are six months of age, more or less. After that, they get one annual molt that lasts about 8 weeks if they are kept under a strict solar schedule and an adequate diet but they can moult for months and months or more than once a year if not. Usually, captive birds go through a full molt about this time of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere) and a partial one a couple of weeks after the winter solstice.

Missy is now around 18 weeks and I think she is moulting. I am keeping an eye on her tho as she had that escapade for 6 days and I want to be sure it's not stress related. So far nothing she has done has shown me her moulting is stress related, except and unless the moulting itself is from that.
Gracie, her sister from another mother, is around the same age - I think she's about two weeks younger, and she is not moulting.