The molting season starts after the breeding season. It is, in fact, the process that stops the breeding season. The adult molt is a significant time of potential illness for the Gouldian. Nature has ensured the "survival of the fittest" by having the molt immediately after the breeding season. I have had times when a clutch of eggs has been laid and then abandoned when one or the other of the Gouldians have begun to molt. They know that they cannot go through the rigors of brood raising and the stress of their own molt at the same time.
Under ideal conditions, a healthy bird is weakened and placed under a great deal of stress during the molt. Over the last 7 years of breeding Gouldians, I have come to a few conclusions about the molting process. I'm not sure if this would be the same for all Gouldians, but it has proven to be the case with all of my birds, whether they were bred by me or purchased elsewhere.
Juvenile Molt
The first molt starts in the juvenile around the third month of age. This will vary according to the temperatures in which they are housed, and the individual breeding line from which they have come. Some family lines color out faster than others, but 3 months is usually the norm. This molt can last for 3 to 4 months depending on the quality of the diet. Remember: every feather that was produced while the baby was in the nest must now be replaced by an adult 'colored' feather.
Molting Pattern
Molting takes place in a predetermined fashion so that the bird is not left flightless. Generally the wing feathers are replaced first, then the body feathers and then the tail feathers from the center out. Powder down feathers are replaced continuously.
"Stuck in the Molt"
Sometimes the juvenile will get "stuck" during this molt, and not complete the process. This particularly happens in the head area, and sometimes in the breast. There are several reasons why this happens.
- Problems with the adsorption from the bowel
- Vitamins deficiencies in the diet, especially calcium or protein
- Virus or bacterial infections during the molt
- Extremely high or low temperatures, sudden changes in the weather
- Shock, disease, or fear
- Malfunction or the thyroid gland
- Breed late in the season
- Overcrowded or lack of hygiene
If the diet conditions are ideal, rest assured that it will complete the molt process when it goes through it's first adult molt in another year’s time.
Molting Control
Starting with the first adult molt and continuing every year thereafter, every bird goes through some sort of molt. I say 'some sort' because I have found that in some years they go through a very light or short (1 month) molt, and in other years they go through a complete (3 month) molt. The factors controlling molting are not well understood but are know to be very complicated. Combinations of age, season, day length, hormone levels and breeding activity are involved in regulation of the molting process. The molt cycle for most birds is one year. I find that the molt is often more intense after a warm spring and a good beginning to the summer than it is during cold and wet months. Unless you handle your birds regularly to check for feather loss and re-growth, you may not even be aware that they have begun molting until you see the white pin feathers appear on their heads.
| During a heavy molt year, you will be well aware that the bird is molting, as there will be feathers everywhere and the poor bird will be pitifully bedraggled. |  |
Feather Growth
Because feathers grow from distinct feather follicles, if a follicle already contains a feather shaft, it cannot produce a new feather. The first step in the molt process is for the existing feather to be shed. The follicle then produces a new feather which grows form the base of the follicle and matures from the tip. The plucking of a feather will stimulate the follicle to produce another feather, but cutting or damage to the mature feather (with the shaft still in the follicle) will not cause a new feather to grow.
Feathers Mostly Protein
Since the stress of the breeding season is followed by the protein depleting molt, the high protein requirements of replacing every feather on the body means there must be an available protein source. Feathers are mostly made up of protein (feathers consist of 88 percent protein), and the proteins in feathers contain larger quantities of sulphur containing amino acids than the protein in other parts of the body. Seed-based diets are particularly low in these critical amino acids. Since mineral only supplements do not compensate for this shortage, they do not prove adequate to promote a fast successful molt.
Feather Quality and Molting
This season I started using either Feather Fast (Since feathers contain huge quantities of the sulphur containing amino acids and these are the very building blocks of protein that are in short supply in all plant (seed ,nut, vegetable, fruit) proteins). Feather Fast provides these sulphur containing amino acids along with a well-balanced total protein source, vitamins and macro and trace minerals. I apply the Feather Fast onto their soft foods. Feather Fast caused my birds to drop more feathers more quickly and so were able to go through the molt faster. I use Feather Fast in conjunction with Calcium Plus to ensure adequate supplies of a highly available form of calcium. This combination enabled my birds to make feathers even more efficiently.
"Fussy Eaters"
If you have birds which seem to enjoy only dry seeds, "sprouted seeds" can be the answer towards providing them with all the vital nutrients they need for a healthier and faster molt. This really works!
Poor Nutrition
During the molt the bodies demand for nutrients increases dramatically. Feather growth is a demanding function and so the body requires greater amounts of energy, protein, vitamins, fats and minerals. Unless these are supplied, the bird will use up what reserves it has and then begin to reduce the quality of the feathers it is growing.
A bird with an inadequate diet will not be able to molt quickly. As molting is a very stressful experience for our birds the quicker we can get it completed the better. With the combination of Feather Fast and Caclium Plus my birds were able to molt with much less effort. My molt was completed quicker this season and I didn’t have any birds "stuck in the molt".
Article © lady gouldian finch.com 2005
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