When do finches start molting ?

[RigorMortisKitten]

I have a little problem right now Today i found 2 tail feathers outside my society finches cage! I was a little shocked, since i first thought that two of the males might have been fighting and pulling feathers from each other.

One of the males - Anubis, has a a bit of a raggedy looking tail right now, while it was previously looking perfect!

The feathers i found on the floor weren't crooked or broken in any way, so i wonder if he is just molting ? Do they lose some of their tailfeathers when molting ?

Here in sweden its still winter, but turning into spring. When is it typical for the molting period to start ?

Halp plz

[dan78]

Sounds like a moult, its around the end of winter to start of spring for most finches. Societies dont seem to moult the same as alot of finches they only seem to lose a few feathers at a time.

[Vargur]

I dont know about society finches,
but zebras molt almost all the time,
They molt their tail, head, chest... ect.

[RigorMortisKitten]

Oh i see! Must be a molt then do you think there is anything to think about when the birds are molting ? Like giving vitamins or some other additives to their diet ?


I love your avatar btw Vargur ^_^ that red bird is fascinating!!

[Vargur]

Thank you

you could give them maybe eggfood or hardboiled eggs
as an extra in their daily food portion.

[dan78]

Not really necessary during moulting with zebs or societies when giving a good varied diet, but if your a little bit concerned extra vitamins added in water won't hurt every once and a while. The key is a good diet seed fruit and vegetables along with the occasional egg/softfood fresh water. Now would be a good starting time to add some extra calcium for your hens calcium mineral powders grit cuttlebone are all great starts.

[RigorMortisKitten]

Thank you for the good advice! I already give seed, fresh water, mineral grit and vegetables/fruit! I gave the birds eggfood with crushed eggshells quite often earlier on, but somehow i thought that it made my society hen fat and stopped i'll give them eggfood once in a while then