Molting? Color change!

[mistywaterwoman]

I was taking pics of the birds today and noticed some "red spots" on Honey's face... at first I thought maybe Peri had attacked her and it was wounds or something!



So then I zoomed in and I think it's her peach color coming through on the top of her head!



I had to google to make sure, lol. I'd forgotten that she doesn't have her "adult" coloring yet and that more of her head will be peach!

So this is consistant with her age, right? I *think* she's about 4-5 months or so.

 

[MonicaMc]

That sounds about right! Many small birds start their adult mot within the 4-6 month age range! Guess you'll be seeing some pretty new feathers pretty soon!

 

[mistywaterwoman]

Peri's been preening her, there are more coming through on her neck area too! She's going to be so gorgeous when she's done.

 

[MarciaLove]

yep shes molting my lovebirds receive their full color around 10 months but start changing around 6 months its fun to watch!

 

[mistywaterwoman]

Thanks!! Something to look forward to!

 

[aliray]

They just look so cute together in their pictures

 

[mistywaterwoman]

This week's update on Honeydew's coloring. She gets darker every day!

 

[cdnbirdlover]

Wow, what a change. We call Basil's peachy face his "watermelon" and you can really see Honey's watermelon coming in.

Sigh, they are so adorable.

 

[MonicaMc]

Absolutely lovely! Love those colors!

And watermelon sounds about right! LOL

 

[mistywaterwoman]

Another update!!


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It's hard for me to remember how dull her coloring used to be! She's amazingly bright now. Is it just the molting, or does having a better diet help for color brightness, too?

 

[MonicaMc]

Probably molting at this point, but that's not to say that a healthy diet doesn't lead to healthy, bright feathers!

The colors really seem to be coming in quickly, too! That peach face is going to be so vibrant!

 

[cdnbirdlover]

Basil's watermelon is bright and peachy but he doesn't eat any orange vegetables to encourage such lovely colouring (picky bird).

 

[MonicaMc]

Parrots don't get color from their foods like canaries do. You feed a canary red food dye, the canary turns red! You do the same to a parrot and it goes right through them. It may *improve* the colors to feed carotenoids, but it will not result in a red or orange bird where those colors are not present.

What Gives Feathers Their Color | Parrot Parrot

For parrots, foods do not generally influence intensity of color. This is not to say that a healthy bird on a good diet doesn’t have more vibrant colors, but this is due more to good health improving the sheen of the feathers so they better reflect light than an actual change in color.

 

[mistywaterwoman]

That's what I was asking, they were eating ONLY millet at the garden center where I bought them. Now they eat a nice seed/pellet mix with a lot of fresh stuff daily. And of course the Nutriberries, which is hands down their favorite treat.

 

[cdnbirdlover]

I've never tried nutriberries. He is happy with his Harrison's pellets and broccoli. Millet and broken up sunflower seeds are for treats. I would like it if he ate sweet potatoes or squash but he doesn't. He will pick at green leafies but broccoli is the veg he eats. Fortunately my kids are not so picky.

 

[mistywaterwoman]

I think mine like bowling with the nutriberries. They toss them around the cage as much as they eat them, lol...

 

[cdnbirdlover]

Are they just for treats or healthy enough for daily consumption?

 

[mistywaterwoman]

It says they are for treats. I put a couple in the treat bowl every after noon, after they have made a good size dent in their regular food.

 

[mistywaterwoman]

She's looking a little splotchy this week... I'm guessing that is normal?

 

[cdnbirdlover]

Are both of your lovies moulting right now? Basil has been losing more feathers than usual for awhile and I assume it's a moult. He's shed all of his clipped flight feathers and grown himself some that actually fly! My daughter is hoping for a beautiful tail feather to add to her collection.