flights and the moult

[jonjon]

an couple of questions regarding flight feathers and the moult i have just got an bird back and is one of my favorits it has been caught by something and most of the flights have much feather on them am guna pull flights out an couple at an time will this affect the moult ect and how long does it take to complete the moult

[Tony C]

Can you put up a pic of the wing showing the flights in question. If the pigeon has been out for some time I would think it will throw some flights naturally as it could have been held up in the moult.

[just ask me]

where should a pigeon be in the moult stage now as regards what flight  second last third last or last

[mushroom]

If you are going to draw the flights from this bird cut the flights you are going to draw and leave them for 2 weeks to die back.Draw one feather out of each side equally, If you are drawing them from both sides that is. When these are three quarters up then draw the next one etc; Do not draw them all at once, a little patience will give you better results. The bird will also be less stressed if it can still get up to a perch, instead of being a flightless target for predators.

[Guest IB]

If you are talking about frayed fearthers held because the bird was out in the wilds - leave them alone.

 

Unfit birds don't moult. They are held because the bird did not have the reserves to moult them. Give it a chance to build itself up again, and it will start throwing these flights itself, big-time..