molt

[wellingtoncdm]

What is the first area that starts and what is the last area to finish an adult molt? How will I know when it begins?

[ac12]

I don't know where it starts, but I have always seen it first in the head. The white pin feathers coming out.

[wellingtoncdm]

I have a new male that has a few tiny pin feathers on his head and chest but I can't tell if it's starting or ending. I am trying to sync my pairs and get them all molting now so they can breed when it's cooler. Will some molt again if they finished in March/April? I have them all on just seed right now for two weeks. How do you get all birds on one schedule?

[ac12]

From what I understand, you can use the austere diet to trigger a molt. But getting the birds in sync can take a couple years. Some won't go into a molt w the austere diet, the first time, but might the 2nd time.

Take a look at this page
http://www.gouldiansgalore.net/diet.html

[atarasi]

I thought the first feathers to fall out were the tail feathers and the first to grow back. Head feathers from my experience were definitely the last to grow back.

[debbie276]

Molt starts replacing the primaries, starting with the inner first feather until the last outer primary is lost. Then the rump and tail-covert feathers are replaced followed by the belly, chest and back. The last to be replaced are the forehead, throat and chin.

[debbie276]

Molting is a very stressful time and should only happen once a year.
Generally in the northern hemisphere (USA) they moult from Jan to June and the southern hemisphere (Australia) from July to Dec.