Moulting

[Gouldian lover]

I have read the articles about delayed and shortened molts, but I would love to know how long just a normal molt lasts. My guys have been shedding for weeks and I keep hoping to see some pin feathers soon. One Gouldie looks downright terrible. I'm hoping there is nothing wrong. Thank you for your thoughts.

Karen

[debbie276]

If you can post pictures it may help to see if something may be off. Are they going so thin that they are bald?
Average molt lasts about 3 months give or take. There really is no set time it all depends on the bird and their nutrition.

[lovezebs]

Gouldian lover

Hi Karen,

Different Gouldians, take different amounts of time.

I have some juvies (from the same clutch), with some completely colored into their adult feathers, and some still looking like little nightmares. These are in the same flight, the same diet, same lighting, and same temperature..... which just goes to show how each bird has it's own way of doing things.

Sorry if I'm repeating myself by asking this question, but what's their diet like? How many hours of light? And what sort of temperatures do you keep?

[Gouldian lover]

Hello Debbie and Elana: Thank you so much for that information. Luckily they are not bald, but the beautiful solid colors and mixed with patches of white feathers. If the molt can last three months, then certainly it has not been going on more than six weeks. I keep the room at 74 degrees (winters are cold in Pennsylvania). The timer on their light is on at 8:00 am and off at 6:45 pm. My guys are not good about a variety of food, but they do eat kale, egg food, a fortified food from Lady Gouldian that I have started to sprinkle on their seed.

I keep reassuring myself that they are singing and anxious to eat and fly frequently. Now that you've told me three months, I'm thinking I was worrying too much (I'm good at that!). I work for the next couple of days but when I'm off during the daytime, I'll post a picture of my guys.

Thank you again sooooooo much.

Karen

[lnlovesorange]

Gouldian lover It's been 5 days since this post... Where are our pictures!!!! (LOL I love pics) I'll bet your goulds are fine. Nother example, my 3 I have 2 that moulted right after I got them (last year just after april) and the 3rd one moulted like 2 months after them, now they've moved... I have them in a bird room, and it's tough to keep the temps at an even keel (it gets direct sunlight all day, but I'm working on it. I give them about 11-12 hours of light and 11-12 hours of sleep (although they are usualy up before me so it might be al ittle less sleeping time! LOL and right now again 2 of them are moulting... and the third (not the same thirds as last year) is not (although he might be now, have to check him out) so Like Elana said it's all depends on the individual.... but I know Debbie's birds all moult together. I'm hoping to get this nex tmoult because I will have had everything evened out and figured out how to keep the temps more even... But I'll bet thier ok.

[Gouldian lover]

Here are a couple of pictures of my previously beautiful guys. It just seems like it has been going on a long time and I worry too much! My daughter gave me a pair of Gouldies and they were not well - had air sac mites and after that I'm always on the lookout for problems. So the red head does not have a nice solid color on his back and the yellow female does not have smooth feathers any more. (I'm not sure I entered the pictures correctly)

Thank you again for reassuring me about the molting process. [album][img]http://www.comcast.net/palampman/IMG_4121.jpg
http://www.comcast.net/palampman/IMG_4118.jpg
http://www.comcast.net/palampman/IMG_4119.jpg[/img][/album]

[lnlovesorange]

Gouldian lover I don't think you did... try again, try writing your post, then clicking Preview once you do that an option to attach pictures comes up. And you can browse them on your computer.. Good luck with it, (pics can be a pain in the ... Vent...) tee.hee. little birdy dirty language! LOL