The dreaded mojo molt

[DexMom]

I'm surprised it happened to Dexter at such a young age - 7 months - but he appears to be having a major league molt. He looks like a scrappy mess on his chest and back and his neck and head feathers are thinning out now, too. I've done some reading and his feather loss fits the descriptions I've seen for the mojo molt. But, being the nervous Nelly that I am, I've made an appointment with the vet so she can look him over, give me her opinion (she saw him 2 months ago in glorious full feather) and run any tests she may want to ensure it's just a molt and nothing health related.

My Dexter has morphed into a "less than attractive" (aka ugly) duckling. He's been kind of ornery as well - not mean and bitey, just short tempered and less playful. No one in the family really wants to handle him now besides me - which is OK in his book because he doesn't want to go to anyone but me. He used to step up for anyone, but not any more. He even growls at me sometimes, but I'm not afraid of him so I step him up anyway. I'm hoping this behavior change is a phase due to his being a little uncomfortable and that he goes back to his outgoing social butterfly demeanor soon.

 

[Anansi]

Ah, the dreaded Mojo molt indeed! Bixby went through this. HARD. And for quite a few months.

A word of warning. Even some avian vets are unaware of this condition, as it is a relatively new classification of molt. One vet even thought he was plucking!

But even if your vet doesn't know of Mojo molt, taking him in is still a good idea. You do want to confirm that all of his values are still in the green to rule out any other issues.

Do you have any pics of Dexter since the molting began?

 

[Christinenc2000]

Again another new term for me. I love google lol.

Are Eclectus the only ones that go thru this ?

 

[Anansi]

Again another new term for me. I love google lol.

Are Eclectus the only ones that go thru this ?

Yes. This is an ekkie specific term named for the first eclectus recorded with the condition. Mojo.

It's not common, and most birds that get it only get it once. Also, as of the last time I checked, it's never been recorded as having happened to a female.

 

[chris-md]

Yep, Parker (self diagnosed) went through or is going through it too around his head -haven't paid attention lately. Sad but not harmful. I've read that it could be caused in some cases by introduction of previously deficient nutrients/better diet. Parker somewhat fits that description because he was on straight fruity pebble supreme pellets, bad juju. While it had the full nutrient profile, we all know what an all pellet diet can potentially do to an Ekkie.

 

[DexMom]

Here is a recent one. You can't really get a true appreciation for how thin the feathers on his head are. I can see skin through the thin remaining feathers from his nares all the way to the back of his neck. And as of this morning he's lost more around his eyes, so I can see a growing ring of skin there as well. He's looking so scrappy. Don't ever tell him I shared these pictures LOL.

No pin feathers yet, I'm afraid he's going to be a beast when they start coming in.

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[chris-md]

There's the handsome devil!

It shouldn't be too bad, temperment wise. Parker just got a little more standoffish, a tiny bit less interested in play and a tiny bit more time just grumpy sulking. Pronounced but not dramatically so. I don't think you will see stuff like increased aggression.

 

[greytness]

My Ekki went through it last year. He had a ring of missing feathers surrounding his neck. Looked like a defeathered necklace. It took almost a year for his feathers to grow back in. He looked awful for the longest time.