Molting Vs. Conditioning

[Jamm972]

So can anyone describe the difference in feathers being lost and if the bird is just conditioning herself for breeding? One of my canaries was preparing for the season built a nest, even allowed the male to mount her several times. Now she is just hanging out and when I look on the floor there are some feathers lost. I'm just concerned she is going into molting and if I should separate the male even though they are getting along, and so far no fighting has been observed.

[lovezebs]

Jamm972

Usually Canaries will molt in late Spring and Summer around my neck of the woods (Alberta, Canada ).

Conditioning a bird for breeding, has to do with getting a bird into optimum condition, through offering the best diet possible (with hard boiled eggs, a variety of greens and veggies and fruit), vitamins, longer hours of light, etc.

Moulting, is when a bird sheds it's feathers (usually once a year) and grows new feathers. This is a gradual process, and they should never lose all of their feathers all at ones.

Not quite sure what's going on with your birds. Is it possible, that your hen is pulling out feathers to line her nest?

[Jamm972]

I think she was loosing her feathers around her stomach area. From what I was reading up on it says this is normal because it allows the hens skin to warm the eggs easier.