Budgie Moulting

Moulting

Moulting, nature's way of changing a bird's feathers, is a regular occurrence with budgerigars. The first moult occurs when the chick is about twelve weeks old and its baby feathers are being replaced with adult ones (see page 8). From then on, budgerigars moult at least once a year and during the seven to eight weeks of the moulting period, the bird may be a little off-colour as the process of growing a complete set of new feathers will sap its vitality. It is normal for budgerigars to stop talking during the moult. A sudden change in the weather will sometimes cause an out-of-season moult, but this should not concern you, nor should the occasional loss of a feather.

During the moult, feathers of the throat spots take about three weeks to grow again, while the tail feathers will take anything up to eight weeks to grow back to their full length. The moult usually takes place between November and January in the southern hemisphere and in September and October in the northern hemisphere.

Do not worry unduly about the moult, but make quite certain that you are feeding the best of normal foods at this time, and that the cage conditions are spotless. Make sure that the cage is out of draughts and damp, as your budgerigar is very susceptible to chills when it is without its feathers.

If the moult seems unusually late or lasts for longer than normal, consult a member of your local cage bird society, most of whom are very ready to help with practical advice.
 

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