Molt & Feather Picking

[GouldieFledge]

My boys are into the molting phase where I'm starting to see feathers on the ground, but they're still looking pretty put-together. However I noticed that they're picking at themselves like crazy. Is this normal, "itching" to shed those old feathers? The chances of them having some sort of mite issue are very small.

[debbie276]

Can't say I've ever noticed scratching like crazy to remove old feathers before. A quick spray with a mite/lice spray wouldn't hurt, just to be sure.

[GouldieFledge]

Hmm, just gave them a spritz of Avian Insect Liquidator. They don't see too happy, they're really going to town on themselves now. Maybe there is something going on...

[lnlovesorange]

My seem to itch an "preen" a little more often during a molt... and no one knows cuz we aren't birds and we don't molt, but people Think that a molt might be uncomfortable, or itchy... again we don't knowl... probably never will but that's just my 2 cents, i mean think about all of your hair falling out over your whole body and growing in new hair... there must SOME feeling to it, and I can't imagine it being very pleasant! LOL (but Deb's the expert) I'd keep an eye on them cuz Mine don't seem CRAZY itchy, but it is more than normal....

[lovezebs]

GouldieFledge

My guys will bathe, fluff and preen regularly.
They do go through their feathers more when they're molting. My assumption is, that the loose feathers need to be worked out and 'tphooey' spat out. Does it make them itch? It's a possibility.

I will on occasion add a couple of drops of Ecotrition Skin & Plumage to their eggs. It contains : Soybean Oil, Cod Liver Oil, Lecithin, Wheat Germ Oil, and Diglycerides of fatty acids (among other things).

I think it's beneficial if birdlings suffer from dry skin. Our weather conditions here, are extremely dry, and we all suffer with dry skin especially during the Winter months, so I figure why should the birds be an exception.