Orange Weaver & moulting

trevorama · Post by **trevorama** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 11:07 am

I understand the male weavers moult before and after the breeding
season. What about the females? Up until a few days ago my girl looked
fine and suddenly she's looking not too good. I can see that her neck
feathers are thinned. She is definitly not being picked on. I have not
added any new birds to the aviary (mites) so I'm left wondering if
it's a moult or she's sick. I assumed the hens would moult like other
birds, gradually throughout the year, but I don't know. Thanks,
Heather

Boothcreek · Post by **Boothcreek** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 7:40 pm

Both males and females go through a complete molt at least once a year, sometimes twice. They look like plucked chickens.

My trio is coming out of a major molt right now and the hens have just started to look good again.
They tend to molt the same time like the male.

trevorama · Post by **trevorama** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 8:07 pm

Thank you for your response. I was hoping that was the case, I just don't remember this happening last year, but it must have (my memory isn't what it used to be!) I've seen some feathers fall off her as she's cleaning herself. She looks pretty sad.