FINCHforum

I was wondering if they do? Mine is looking kind of grubby and the feathers aren't as smooth and full as they were just a week or two ago. So I want to know if that's normal or not?

Thanks.

I can't help you there, I have a male Shafttail, but I only got him late last year, so haven't had him long enough to see if he will have a very visible molt.

They definitely do not go through the molting ritual that gouldians go through but I also noticed mine having a few feathers sticking out but no noticeable molt. They also puff themselves allot more than other finches I've noticed. At first I thought they were sick but almost a year later and they're still doing it so I think it's just a shaftail thing.

I think I know the answer now, I saw the female pulling out her own feathers to use for nesting material - I provided a variety of nesting material this week but I still see her do this every now and then.

She's very healthy otherwise and highly energetic, no bald spots either but you can just notice she's not smoothly feathered as she was last month.

My shaft-tail pair are moulting now. There are flight, tail and breast feathers everywhere. The hen will pull feathers from the male, but I think it's her way of letting him know it's his turn to go incubate the eggs!