Plucking from moulting???

[dulphinz]

I was wondering how you tell one from the other...my boy hasn't lost any of his real feathers since we got him. A lot of down in the cage but recently he's lost a few real feathers and yesterday there were about 5 small feathers at the bottom of his cage... Getting a little worries. Any info and help on detecting plucking vs moulting would be appreciated.

 

[tab_xo]

I am not entirely sure, but i just wanted to say, when Fargo moults, he loses ALOT of feathers.. he lost about 300 feathers in his moult last year and he has just started another one now, so far its about 5-10 feathers a day.. So dont get too worried!

Maybe see if he has pin feathers coming through?

I assume plucking there would be bald patches or you could tell the feathers have been picked at? I am not sure!

Good luck

 

[dulphinz]

Thanks for your input Tab. I must tell you agin how much I enjoy seeing posts of Fargo

 

[tab_xo]

Haha thank you very much!

How old is Coco?

Fargo had his first moult when he was around 7 months till about 10 months

 

[dulphinz]

Coco is now almost 11 months and we've had him since he was 6 and he hasn't lost any feathers to this point.

 

[tab_xo]

Well the timing would be about right for a moult i would assume!

I will just leave it to the experts now haha

 

[Akraya]

I'm currently in the same boat as you with my Nimbus, but she's breaking her tail feathers off and she's been very cranky. There are pin feathers but I am very worried.
Sounds like Coco is going through a normal molt though =)

 

[Kalidasa]

You can often tell if a feather has been plucked if there is blood or squishy connective tissue at the very point of the quill. If its clear it was most likely ready to come out anyway....it's moulting season.

 

[dulphinz]

Thanks for all the input! Very much appreciated. Now I can stop worrying a little.