Molting and bathing of a budgie. Shedding in budgerigars

And you don’t know why parrots molt, we strongly recommend reading to the end. It happens that the owner of a feathered friend unknowingly mistakes molting for some kind of health problem. Don't be afraid. Molting in parrots is an absolutely normal and necessary process. Of course, there are also diseases that cause feather loss, but this is a completely different topic.

The very first molt in parrots begins 2-3 months after birth. This period is very important for young chicks. Biologists call it juvenile, because during this period the onset of puberty occurs. After another 2-3 months, the first moult ends and the parrot is considered sexually mature. The process of changing plumage is necessary for the normal functioning of the bird. We can name many similar examples from nature. In humans, for example, it is common for hair to fall out and be replaced with new ones, just as with the growth of nails that are cut, snakes change their skin, just as parrots replace old or damaged feathers with new ones. Therefore, you should not perceive molting in parrots as something abnormal.

How often do parrots molt?

The process is not limited to shedding during puberty. Feathers change throughout the bird's life. For example, it molts twice a year. At this time, he may seem a little lethargic or inactive to you. If you find no other symptoms of the disease. Don't worry. Its inactivity is explained by the fact that during this period all metabolic processes in the bird will intensify. Take care of proper and balanced nutrition.

As a rule, parrots molt after a love period (nesting, breeding). Also, some species change their plumage invisibly. Their feathers fall out evenly and are replaced with new ones without allocating a certain period in time; they do not have bald patches.

Nature made sure that the molting period did not affect the ability to fly. The feathers replace each other on both krills evenly in pairs, so that the bird can lead a normal life in natural conditions and not fall into the teeth of predators. But, unfortunately, there are times when the feathers fall out of balance and the bird stops flying, moving on the ground.

Such molting is not a normal process - it is a disease called “French molting”, which was first discovered in France, hence the name of the disease. The cause is a deficiency of protein in the body and other essential nutrients in the first days after birth.

Also, an interesting fact about why parrots molt is their defensive reaction to fear, like a lizard when it sheds its tail in case of threat. Every living organism has its own protective reactions. Therefore, you should not scare your parrot when it is sleeping or for other reasons does not expect it, however, never scare your parrot if you want it to be healthy.

Also, do not forget that molting in a parrot can be caused by one of the following. If you come to the conclusion that your feathered friend is not just changing his coat - he is sick, quickly seek help from a veterinarian. During the period of molting, for whatever reason it occurs, it is necessary to increase the bird’s nutrition and monitor the ambient temperature. After all, when feathers fall out, some areas of the skin become less protected, this leads to the parrot freezing, and the body temperature increases.

Young parrots, approximately 2-3 months old (this age may vary depending on the breed and the characteristics of the bird), are experiencing their first molt. Biologists call it juvenile. If a grown-up chick begins to molt, this indicates that puberty has begun. Usually, after a couple of months, juvenile molting ends. The parrot renews its feather outfit and can be considered.

About twice a year, adult birds (for example, birds) may have so-called periodic molts. Typically, regeneration of plumage occurs after the breeding season (nesting). Some breeds renew their clothing continuously; they do not have a specific molting period.

While the bird completely or partially changes its feathers, veterinarians prescribe it a balanced diet (greens, animal proteins, sprouted grains, vegetables) and multivitamins. In a molting bird, all metabolic processes are enhanced, so it may be a little sluggish and passive. After changing the plumage, he will be full of strength again.

The molting process occurs in a certain order. All this time the birds can fly. The flight feathers and tail feathers are replaced with new ones in pairs on both sides, which allows them to balance normally. However, among parrots there are also so-called “runner” chicks. Before flying out of the nest, these poor creatures lose the most important feathers necessary for normal flight.

This is no longer a natural change in plumage, but a real disease. Veterinarians first discovered it in France among parrots, which is why it received the “French moult.” is it happening? According to research by scientists, the tissues of sick chicks contain less protein than the tissues of their healthy counterparts (even from the same brood). One of the reasons for painful molting is presumably a lack of protein and other nutrients in the first days of the runner's life.

Why more parrots? It turns out that these impressionable birds are capable of shedding their coverts and tail (and sometimes even flight) feathers from shock. For example, if you grab your pet roughly while sleeping or startle your pet during treatment. This phenomenon is “shock molting” and is considered a protective reaction of the body. Biologists compare it to the shedding of a tail during a threat to life.

According to veterinarians, during the natural process of changing plumage, parrots' body temperature rises slightly. If molting is caused by pathological processes and reactions of the body, the bird’s body is deprived of natural thermal insulation. The parrot begins to freeze, its body temperature drops. Your pet needs good food and warmth. For whatever reason, the bird changes its plumage, during this period it needs especially careful care.

Budgies, like many other pets, can shed their hair occasionally. This process is studied by experienced veterinarians and ornithologists, however, the only thing that is now known for sure is that molting is a renewal of plumage in a bird and is influenced by many factors.

As a rule, this is a completely healthy process, but owners need to know how budgerigars shed and how often it occurs.

As already mentioned, many experienced and qualified ornithologists are studying the issue of physiological change of plumage in budgerigars.

To date, it has been found that this process can be influenced by the following factors:

• season;
• air temperature;
• atmospheric humidity;
• sex and age of the bird.

As a rule, wavy birds molt in two stages: the loss of old plumage and the growth of new ones. However, it often rarely happens that when a parrot molts, its feathers immediately fall out, and only then new ones begin to grow.

These two stages are closely related to each other and in a healthy process, the bird rarely remains “naked”, and the flight and tail feathers change gradually. Treatment in this case is not necessary, the main thing is to take care of proper care during this period.

What are the symptoms that your budgie is shedding?

• the bird's wavy stripes may disappear, the density of its feathers becomes sparse, there are small areas without feathers;
• the parrot may be itchy and irritated;
• When a wavy molts, it may experience sleep disturbances.

After some time, new ones grow in place of the lost feathers, but bird owners need to monitor the general health of the pet, since the same symptoms are characteristic of a serious disease called “French” molt.

First molt

The first time a budgie changes its plumage is at about 3.4-4 months. As a rule, at this time there is a change in the color of the wax, and the chick molts intensively.

The wavy stripes on the parrot's head fade or disappear altogether, and after a few weeks new ones grow. The color of the new feathers becomes more saturated if it is a male, however, in females the intensity of the color changes slightly.

As a rule, the chick molts for a long time and very heavily for the first time. You may notice hairless areas on your pet's body that you might think is French shedding. But irritability and frequent scratching.

This is due to the abundant growth of new plumage, which causes unpleasant itching.

In budgerigars, molting begins from the neck, from the head, and you can immediately see new tubes in place of the fallen feathers, from which new feathers then grow. In some cases, the molting period can last up to a year.

What to do if your bird molts?

For owners faced with such a problem for the first time, the most pressing question will be: what to do? After all, the symptoms of the first moult are very similar to a serious disease called “French molt,” and treatment under such circumstances is ineffective and leads to death?

First of all, put aside panic. The main symptom of French molt is weak feathers on the wings and tail. If the bird can fly, then everything is in order.

If your bird does not shed much, then there should be no cause for concern. The main thing you should do is:

• make sure that your pet is comfortable, protect the bird from drafts and sudden temperature changes, especially if this is the first molt;
• try to let him fly less so that he does not experience additional stress and does not lose more feathers than is likely to happen;
• it is necessary to add chalk or calcium supplement to the diet;
• if your budgie loves to swim, then do not deprive him of this opportunity;
• when an intense period of molting begins, try to create more humid conditions - this has a positive effect on your pet’s skin.

Shedding after nervous exhaustion or stress

Feather loss in budgerigars can also begin against the background of stress or shock. So, when frightened (fear of the owner’s hands, sudden movements, unexpected light, etc.), the bird can react with a shock molt. How does it differ from other types of changing a bird's feather covering?

It's simple, during the period of shock molting, the pet loses its tail and body feathers, but the flight feathers remain in place.

Also, during stressful loss of feathers, the body temperature of a winged friend decreases, whereas during natural molting it increases by several degrees.

Scabies disease

Shedding can be caused by scabies caused by mites. Symptoms of the disease:

• loss of plumage on the bird’s legs, less often on other parts of the body;
• the places where the feathers have fallen out have a lumpy structure and a reddish tint;
• the pet very often scratches areas of the body damaged by ticks, trying to pluck out its feathers

And if you notice similar symptoms in your winged friend, do not hesitate, seek help from a veterinarian.

Molting caused by a fungal disease

When the molting period of a budgerigar is prolonged, instead of the prescribed couple of months it lasts for a year, then the reason may be hidden in the presence of a fungal infection.

It occurs in the absence of proper hygiene or is brought along with food purchased at a pet store or veterinary pharmacy.

Symptoms of a fungal infection:

• the skin of the parrot's paws, beak and wax becomes dry and, as a result, cracks and peels;
• uneven feather loss;
• formation of bald spots;
• in places where the bird's feathers have fallen out, the skin has an inflamed appearance, with characteristic signs of irritation and redness;
• feathers that fall out have an uneven shape and a bloody tip;
• During the period of fungal molting, the feathered pet has a shabby and disheveled appearance.

Such manipulations can only contribute to the development of irritation and peeling. A budgie should be treated exclusively by a veterinarian.

Molting is a natural process in the life of any feathered creature. But if it is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms, then you should immediately consult a specialist.

Take care of your pet, provide him with proper care, and he will definitely delight you with his good mood!

What you need to know about French shedding?

French molt is a rather unpleasant disease that affects entire broods of chicks. The reasons for it are unknown, but it causes significant loss of feathers that are important for flight, and in addition, about 75% of the chicks die.

The remaining 25% have very sparse plumage, cannot fly, and move only on their legs. Treatment is only symptomatic, but the parrot will no longer be able to become completely healthy.

French molt occurs in unfavorable breeding conditions:

• with frequent mating of pairs of budgerigars, more than 2 clutches per season;
• infectious diseases in parents;
• mating among immediate relatives;
• stressful situations in the female and chicks.

How often can parrots change their feathers?

As a rule, molting in budgies can begin at different times. But with proper care, it occurs twice a year. If you keep birds in apartment conditions, then the season does not matter; molting can begin in both spring and autumn.

At this time, the wavy may behave a little sluggish and apathetic. This is explained by the fact that all metabolic processes in the parrot are activated, so it needs additional vitamins and minerals.

Review your parrot's diet, increase the dose of calcium, and also provide chalk and succulent food.

Pets often change their plumage after the nesting period. For some, this can go completely unnoticed: the feathers fall out and are gradually replaced with new ones.

However, sometimes there are cases when important feathers fall out and the bird cannot fly and is forced to move on the ground.

Stress or extreme fear can cause unplanned shedding. Therefore, protect your pet from negative emotions.

The physiological natural change of feathers in parrots has long been studied by ornithologists and veterinarians. Experienced breeders of wavy and other varieties of these birds know how the process of plumage replacement should normally proceed and at what period juvenile, seasonal molting should begin in feathered pets.

The natural periodic molting of parrots, in which old feathers are replaced by new ones, is not related to the age of the bird and is regulated by internal secretion organs.

As a rule, seasonal molting in wavy birds begins in early spring or mid-autumn.

In their natural environment, parrots change their old plumage to new ones several times a year, depending on the climatic and weather conditions of the region. Moreover, if molting becomes pathological, the parrot can intensively pull out feathers, which leads to the appearance of bald patches and bald spots on the body.

Please note that during the molting period the parrot's condition may worsen. Activity decreases. Parrots that molt have mood changes and their appetite may worsen. But at the same time, with the usual replacement of plumage, the parrot should fly normally, unless, of course, its wings are clipped or the first molt occurs.

Initially, in parrots, during juvenile molting, which in wavy birds begins at the age of 2–5 months, down and internal primary flight feathers fall out, then the secondary and tail feathers are gradually replaced. At the same time, if the parrot changes its feathers too intensively, try to limit the pet’s activity. During this period, let him sit in a cage for several days. Although in this matter everything is individual and depends on the well-being and behavior of the bird.

Symptoms

Signs of molting can be noticed not only by changes in the state of plumage, but also by changed behavior.

Characteristic signs of molting:

• intense loss of down and feathers;
• irritation, peeling of the skin;
• disappearance of wavy stripes on the head, not too neat appearance;
• anxiety or, on the contrary, a depressed state;
• severe itching associated with feather replacement;
• the appearance of bald spots and bald spots on the body.

The duration of the molting period, as well as its onset, depends largely on the characteristics of a particular type of parrot, as well as on environmental temperature and nutrition. Females may lose their plumage while nursing chicks.

In young animals, the first molt lasts more than 3–5 weeks. If there are no pathologies, upon examination you can notice “tubes” from which new feathers grow. After the first molt, the pet will acquire brighter and more beautiful plumage. In rare cases, juvenile moulting lasts up to a year.

French molt

If a budgerigar intensively loses feathers, and this process is not associated with juvenile or seasonal changes in plumage, it is possible that due to a deficiency of protein, which should be supplied with food, due to violations of the rules of keeping the budgerigar, the loss of feathers is associated with French molt.

In the course of scientific research, it was found that French molting in wavy cats is genetically determined.

During the French molt, wavy birds pluck out their feathers and shed them intensively. Pathological growths may appear on the beak and paws. The sick bird is weakened and inactive.

Unfortunately, if a parrot loses feathers due to French molting, the disease is incurable. The pet's condition can only be improved with supportive therapy.

Shock molt

If a parrot loses feathers, the condition of the plumage is unsatisfactory; one of the possible reasons for this phenomenon is shock molting. Occurs due to severe emotional stress, fear or stress. The bird loses its tail feathers and loses its flight wings. During molting, which is caused by stress, a parrot's overall health worsens and its immune potential decreases.

With this pathology, the parrot becomes inactive and shows no interest in the world around it. Temperature may drop.

With scabies (knemidocoptic mange), you can notice bald spots not only on the body in the area of ​​​​the wings, but also on the paws. The affected surfaces have a lumpy structure and become red in color. The skin is thickened and flaky. Cracks, small bumps, and red spots are visible on the surface of the body. Lost feathers look untidy. In severe cases, the wax, beak, and paws are affected. Feathers fall out in clumps and unevenly.

What to do if your parrot sheds a lot?

If your parrot sheds or plucks feathers, you need to determine the reason. Show your pet to an ornithologist, who will prescribe a series of laboratory and diagnostic tests. Treatment methods are selected taking into account individual, breed characteristics, stage, and form of the disease.

During seasonal or juvenile molting, it is very important to provide your pet with a high-quality, complete diet and proper care. The feathered pet must receive sufficient quantities of vitamins, amino acids, and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium).

Be sure to put chalk and mineral stone in the cage. Supplement your diet with sulfur preparations. In pet stores you can also buy special food that is intended for birds during molting. Such mixtures, which should be given to the bird during the period of plumage change, are enriched with cereals, healthy herbs, amino acids and vitamins. Feeding should be complete and balanced.

When changing plumage, do not place the cage in drafts or near heating appliances.

If a budgerigar's feathers fall out due to viral or bacterial infections, the pet will be prescribed complex therapy using medications for general and local treatment. To normalize the condition and improve plumage, the pet is given vitamins, mineral supplements, enzymes, and homeopathic remedies.

During and after treatment, create the most comfortable conditions for the bird. Pay attention to your pet. The bird must feel the care and love of its owner. Remember, we are responsible for those we have tamed!

To maintain the feather cover in proper condition, yours must be bathed regularly. Usually, budgerigars carefully monitor their plumage and devote a lot of time to their appearance. Straighten stray feathers and clean them.

Let's take a short excursion into the world of the structure and purpose of a parrot's feather

A typical budgerigar feather consists of an elastic shaft, to the upper part of which elastic, convex vane plates are attached. The upper part of the trunk where the fans are attached is called the stem. The lower part of the trunk, which is attached to the feather bursa of the bird’s body, is called the ochin. Each fan is formed by numerous plates - beards of the first order, on which there are smaller plates - beards of the second order, interconnected by hooks. They are so firmly adhered to each other that they do not even form a gap between themselves and make the appearance of the pen smooth and elastic.

Based on their structure, purpose and shape, feathers are divided into:

• Down feathers (located on the underside of the body under the coverts, they do not have hooks on the web and are not interlocked with each other). Designed to maintain normal body temperature of the parrot. These feathers, growing on the sides and lower back, have one interesting feature: a kind of “moisture protection” mechanism. Gradually disintegrating, these feathers are transformed into the so-called “dandruff powder”, which protects the parrot’s plumage from getting wet. Sometimes you can notice that the parrot shakes itself sharply and a kind of cloud appears above it, which settles on the upper edges of the feathers. In those places where the “powder” does not reach, the parrot applies it with its beak.
• Contour feathers (cover the entire body of the parrot, giving it a streamlined appearance, which is very important for fast flight). They are divided into flight feathers, which are located on the wings, and tail feathers, which are located in the tail of the bird in the amount of twelve pieces. These are the longest and most elastic feathers of a parrot, which is reflected in their purpose.
• Thread-like feathers - consist of a soft stem and an underdeveloped fan.
• Bristle feathers are modified feathers without a fan. They are located above the eyes (cilia) or at the base of the beak.

The entire body of the bird is covered with various types of feathers, but there are also bare areas of the body. The areas of skin not covered with feathers are called apteria, the covered areas are called pterilia.

Parrots bathing

For the most part, budgies are clean people and love to swim. But how often should a parrot bathe? Sooner or later, every owner asks this question. There are many ways you can bathe your budgie. Starting from simply spraying him with warm water from a spray bottle or putting him in a comfortable bathing suit. There must be an individual approach here. You will have to proceed from what your parrot will give preference to.

Some parrots like to bathe simply under running water, while others prefer a small saucer.
If you suddenly notice that your parrot has climbed into the drinking bowl and is starting to spray water from there, this is a direct signal for you to remember its natural needs. This bird is telling you: “I want to swim!”

But there are also cases when a parrot for some reason does not want to bathe. Do not rush to conclude that your bird does not like water - you should interest the parrot by putting his favorite toy (a mirror or a ball) in the water. Some parrots love it when wet lettuce leaves are placed in the bathing suit, and the parrot happily goes and bathes in these leaves. Indeed, in their natural environment, parrots bathe in leaves wet with dew, which means this method of getting used to bathing is doubly useful: both water procedures and receiving vitamins.

Never force bathe your bird.

The parrot may become very stressed and will never go near water, and you are at great risk of losing the trust of your wavy friend.

When bathing a parrot, the room temperature should be warm, no drafts. Do not allow your bird to drink dirty water after bathing. Pour a little water into the bathing suit (about 2 cm) so that the water only covers the bottom, otherwise the bird may choke. Never blow dry birds! If the parrot is cold, simply turn on the lamp above the cage, after darkening half the cage with a dark cloth to create shadow. The parrot, having dried, will go into the shadows.

Parrot moulting

This process is not yet fully understood in birds. But it has been absolutely established that the molting process is influenced by gender, age, season, humidity and air temperature. Basically, molting occurs without any significant change in the health of the bird and occurs in two stages. Usually there are two large molts per year and several less intense ones. A bird never loses the ability to fly when molting - the flight and tail feathers are replaced gradually. In total, the parrot changes its plumage twice a year.

Molting in a parrot is a natural physiological change of feathers that occurs gradually. The first molt of a parrot occurs at approximately 3.5-4 months, sometimes earlier or later. Usually it is very intense: during molting the parrot looks unpresentable, but after that the bird’s appearance changes significantly. The wavy stripes on the head disappear, giving way to a fluffy cap, the throat feathers become more saturated, and the feather color becomes brighter. The first molt can be longer, about 1.5-2 months. During the process, the feather is replaced, and bare areas of the skin may periodically appear. Gradually, the old feathers will be completely replaced by new ones. Sometimes budgies can pull out new feathers, as the profusely growing new feathers cause severe itching. During this period, the parrot may suddenly become irritable, restless, and have trouble sleeping.