Softening a Hard Molt

[finchick]

I've read everything I could find and also based on my birds, Gouldians seem to go through hard molts. Some of these molts are so hard that the bird ends up sleeping on the bottom of the cage for a week or so. I've tried putting together changes in diet (adding iodine sources, like kelp), light, temperature, and so on to see if I could get them to molt at a slower pace so that it would not have such a tremendous impact on them. Watching a bird suddenly realize it can't lift off to get back to its perch is heart-wrenching.

Does anyone have any tips on how to slow the molt down so that it is spread over a longer period or time and less dramatic? Or, is this what happens in nature, where for a period of time Gouldians become bipeds?

Thanks!

[MiaCarter]

Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to affect molt rate.
It's a stressful time for them, indeed.

The most you can do is just provide supportive care.

NV powder and/or unflavored Pedialyte or a homemade electrolyte solution.

You could also offer Feather Fast. It's got all the good nutrients they need for a molt.

A heat lamp always helps for sure.

In addition to the kelp, egg food helps too, as most love it and it's rich in protein and nutrients. Insects too like mealworms, bloodworms, etc.
Greens and other nutrient-rich foods are nice too.
I also have herb salad available at all times.
The key is to give them lots of good foods, and a variety so they can pick what they need. They're naturally drawn to foods that contain the nutrients they require.

That and help them conserve energy by offering a heat lamp. So they can save energy on heating, so to speak. (Plus, they have thin spots, so they chill easier.)

[delray]

My societies are in a molt. So many feathers lol, but I obviously expected those lol.

[dutch]

finchick.....doesn't sound right

A bird shouldn't lose it's ability to fly when molting

If that happened in the wild birds would become extinct

Something is lacking in their diet

Birds indoors?