Moulting time

[DOVEScot]

The annual moult seems to be just starting, is this a natural occurance to coincide with the time of year that natural food is plentiful to held them though this process :-/

[jimmy white]

"the big moult" usualy starts after the pigeons throw their 6th flight ,  usualy it throws  its first flight after sitting 10 days on its second round of eggs ,off course this is the reason w,hood cocks are put on w,hood roughly after sitting 8 to 10 days as this does retard the moult , also natural birds, paired up in april should be throwing their second flight now , and in condition for classic races ,,,,,,,,,but when the big moult does start its feathers and more feathers  

[THE FIFER]

do you think the changeable weather we are getting just can effect the birds moult, just like the darkness system fools them what about the weather,

[DOVEScot]

do you think the changeable weather we are getting just can effect the birds moult, just like the darkness system fools them what about the weather,

 

I think natural moult obviously takes a lot of out the birds as they have to reproduce these feathers so best done when food is plentiful and the weather SHOULD be warmer, yes the changing weather will effect this and maybe natures way of adapting, the same as falsly keeping them in the darkness system :-/

[Guest IB]

It does seem to be directly related to the pigeon's own biological clock, which can be manipulated by the fancier, for example (as has already been said) by later pairing up, or by the Darkness system.

 

But the main trigger appears to be much reduced daylight hours rather than food availability.

 

Fewer daylight hours is associated with the onset of winter and lesser supplies of food in the wild; but our pigeons live in the artificial environment that we created for them - food is always plentiful and on tap (they don't have to go far for it, the feeder is feet rather than miles away) so can't be a main issue governing the pigeons' moult?

 

 

[THE FIFER]

 

I think natural moult obviously takes a lot of out the birds as they have to reproduce these feathers so best done when food is plentiful and the weather SHOULD be warmer, yes the changing weather will effect this and maybe natures way of adapting, the same as falsly keeping them in the darkness system :-/

 

i noticed some of the wild birds a bit late in nesting as well this year, i believe weather conditions could change the moult, pairing up etc maybe, but this has changed as well birds getting paired up in december, its getting now pigeons, (not wild ones) will pair up all year round if allowed, i think a lot of nature has been taken out of racing pigeons,

 

 

[DOVEScot]

It does seem to be directly related to the pigeon's own biological clock, which can be manipulated by the fancier, for example (as has already been said) by later pairing up, or by the Darkness system.

 

But the main trigger appears to be much reduced daylight hours rather than food availability.

 

Fewer daylight hours is associated with the onset of winter and lesser supplies of food in the wild; but our pigeons live in the artificial environment that we created for them - food is always plentiful and on tap (they don't have to go far for it, the feeder is feet rather than miles away) so can't be a main issue governing the pigeons' moult?

 

 

Aye but natural moult is different from induced moult, even wild pigeons go through the moult although I don,t see it as bad in them as I do in captive pigeons, maybe they do it at this time of the year so they can produce new feathers to see them through the winter.

Why do they produce and sell moulting mixtures if it is not diet related :-/

[DOVEScot]

 

i noticed some of the wild birds a bit late in nesting as well this year, i believe weather conditions could change the moult, pairing up etc maybe, but this has changed as well birds getting paired up in december, its getting now pigeons, (not wild ones) will pair up all year round if allowed, i think a lot of nature has been taken out of racing pigeons,

 

 

Our cote pigeons rear all year round although they do slow down and the mortality is reduced due to the natural elements, but the ones that do survive are really healthy and strong, our loft pigeons on the other hand will be seperated or their eggs replaced with false ones :-/

[micko and jack]

i dont know 1 thing about moulting but my birds are loosing feathers like mad but they look ok for it and maybe its just me but i think this years young birds are changing colour some of the darker birds are becoming i bit lighter i could be wrong or is that the norm or do young birds not moult mick

 

[DOVEScot]

i dont know 1 thing about moulting but my birds are loosing feathers like mad but they look ok for it and maybe its just me but i think this years young birds are changing colour some of the darker birds are becoming i bit lighter i could be wrong or is that the norm or do young birds not moult mick

 

I have some young birds that slight marks on the tips of their feathers which moulted out and turned out all white in the end :-/

Also a pure white indian fantail that developed one grey feather once it went through the moult :-/

[Guest IB]

 

Aye but natural moult is different from induced moult, even wild pigeons go through the moult although I don,t see it as bad in them as I do in captive pigeons, maybe they do it at this time of the year so they can produce new feathers to see them through the winter.

Why do they produce and sell moulting mixtures if it is not diet related :-/

 

Like yourself, I have never seen wild pigeons in as advanced state of moult as captive pigeons can go thro. I think the difference is down to the wild bird couldn't afford the energy levels that kind of moult demands, and the bird must always be airworthy for daily foraging for food. Our birds don't and it shows, when they throw their 10th primary they just won't fly, because they live in a closeted environment with high energy food supplied, and don't have to forage.  

 

Moulting mix is part of the same closeted environment; we feed the birds to suit the job they are doing: breeding, racing etc. We feed moulting mix when the big moult begins, not the other way round. Like yourself, I've noticed more feathers in OB section. Mine are still being fed the same racing mix, the only difference is daylight hours are on the wain - its now getting dark earlier at night.

 

[jimmy_84]

Hi every1 my birds are just starting to go through the moult but they are also sitting egg's and i haven't had any youngster's yet as i have had a few problem's with hawk and oter ailments i bought the new birds and i would like to get a round of youngsters from each pair but if this will be to much for them i shall replace the egg's with pot egg's then seperate cock's and hen's if i do this how long will the moult take and do you think i will get a round of youngsters of them after moult or again will it be to stressful i have 2 yb's in the nest but would like a few more to get for my kit to fly next year any advice would be great cheers guys and gals

[DOVEScot]

Hi every1 my birds are just starting to go through the moult but they are also sitting egg's and i haven't had any youngster's yet as i have had a few problem's with hawk and oter ailments i bought the new birds and i would like to get a round of youngsters from each pair but if this will be to much for them i shall replace the egg's with pot egg's then seperate cock's and hen's if i do this how long will the moult take and do you think i will get a round of youngsters of them after moult or again will it be to stressful i have 2 yb's in the nest but would like a few more to get for my kit to fly next year any advice would be great cheers guys and gals

 

We don't let the loft birds breed through the moult but our cote birds breed all year round and the raise good ybs through their moult, but as I have said they don't moult near as much as the loft birds for some reason, even though our lofts are well aired :-/

[jimmy_84]

 

We don't let the loft birds breed through the moult but our cote birds breed all year round and the raise good ybs through their moult, but as I have said they don't moult near as much as the loft birds for some reason, even though our lofts are well aired :-/

 

i thought the moult happens at the end of summer the birds seem happy enough but i wonder if i should let them hatch these egg's or split them let them go right through the moult what does every1 think

[DOVEScot]

 

i thought the moult happens at the end of summer the birds seem happy enough but i wonder if i should let them hatch these egg's or split them let them go right through the moult what does every1 think

 

let them hatch, they have the best of feeding to cope with both raising and moulting