My birds are out just now daily, that's why I cut the food back, also, if they are out and fat, that's when the hen sparra gets the best go owe the year, when its cold during the day, they get the full feed at night time. I handle my birds now and then, and they are not fat, they, well some of them are like a tennis ball. That's what I have done for some time, and have no problems with them having the perfect moult in my eyes.