how long do birds moult

[micko and jack]

CHAIRDE   (FRIENDS)

how long do pigeons moult for

our roof is triple perpex so daylight all day long

excess to the aviary 24/7

bath (warm)  water put out every day

loads of small seeds

and oil on the feed once a week

is there anything else we can do to help

[Guest IB]

How long do they moult? My natural OBs were paired in mid-March, are around Primary 7, and well into the body moult.  Expect Nov/Dec before they finish.

 

Think what you are both doing will see them through OK.

 

[TheHigg]

cant see anything else you have to do just let nature do the rest never heard of awarm bath though (mad_geek)(shy)(shy)(verymad)

[micko and jack]

cant see anything else you have to do just let nature do the rest never heard of awarm bath though (mad_geek)(shy)(shy)(verymad)

 

our fantails are city bird not as hardy as country birds they like their comfords haha

[micko and jack]

if you left a light on in the loft at night would it help in the moult

[Babybird]

I would think they be better resting :-/

[Guest Owen]

I find it best to do all your doing but in addition I do not ask the birds to exercise. Often, they are too sore to exercise anyway. Good food and rest are best. You do need to be careful that you do not overfeed because they will put too much wieght on.

In my case, I have to remember to have the birds at a sensible wieght because if I turn them out later on, in an overwieght condition, the Peregrine will have a field day.

I have lost some really good pigeons to the Peregrine in the past by keeping them in and allowing them to get unfit and overwieght.

[Babybird]

I do not ask the birds to exercise.

 

Do you mean keep them in all the time ? :-/

[flyingteessider]

I let nature take its course if i found food or light speeds the moult up id be leaving the lights onall night and constantly feeding my german shepard it

[Guest Greig the doo Drysdale]

I do not ask the birds to exercise.

 

Do you mean keep them in all the time ? :-/

 

no he means he doesnt talk to them he just keeps the in as in they are grounded lol

[Guest Owen]

Sorry I should have explained that in a better way. When I said "I do not ask the birds to exercise", I meant that I let them out a couple of times a week by leaving the door open and putting a bath down. Some will take off and do some exercise but most will get into the bath.

I like to think, that this is a time for the birds to relax and complete the moult as easily and smoothly as possible.

As I explained before, we have major Peregrine problems here. The last thing I want, is to have birds up there for him to grab, when they are moulting heavily and can not fly normally. I have tried locking them up for the winter but sooner or later they have to go out. And it is not a good idea to let birds out in the spring when they are unfit and overwieght. So I work to a compromise, gentle exercise throughout the winter about once or twice a week. It is not foolproof but it seems to work reasonably well.

 

[Babybird]

Thanks for that Owen and Greig  

[Wiley]

if you left a light on in the loft at night would it help in the moult

 

you would stop the moult as the birds would think its summer, also the lighter the mixture including barley, and lots of small seeds the more feathers they appear to chuck out, seems to do the trick, but must point out i do put Perform powder and Perform oils on the grains at least 3 times a week. The birds are also offered freedom on an everyday basis up untill middle of November, and they choose what they exactly want to do, mainly just walk about and have a bath, but for that period of time during the moult im happy with that, and it wont be untill february when i will require them to start to exercise. And if i have time i sometimes use Caynene Pepper in the water, which heats the blood. An old game keeper told me once you want your birds to moult, take there water away from them for 24 hours, however i have never tried it