GW molting question

[triordan]

So Remington has been losing feathers for the last 2 1/2 months, how long does a molt usually take? Initially he dropped large feathers, then small ones/downy looking ones, now medium sized ones and an occasional large one...i thought we would be basically done by now...or do they just lose them gradually all year?

 

[willist]

They loose them gradually all year long. In the wild they need to always have enough feathers to be able to fly. If they lost too many at once they couldn't fly. My GW seems to go though times where he drops more feathers than other times. On the other hand my CAG never ever looks like he's lost a single feather nor do I ever see any new ones growing in.

 

[triordan]

so how do you know they are going through a molt?

 

[Spiritbird]

If it is a molt you should feel and see the pin feathers growing back to replace the one that fell out. A new feather is encased in a keratin substance that eventually hardens and dries up. We can help the process along some on the birds head at that dry stage but they take care of the rest of the body. Many times there are blood feathers hidden in the wings for protection. Usually one on each side at a time.

 

[triordan]

i do see pin feathers on his head