Beaphar

moulting

Birds change feathers every year. This is known as moulting. The bird loses its old feathers and a completely new set of feathers will take their place. In the wild, birds generally go through this period without problems, but birds in captivity can have difficulties.

When will moulting start and how long will it last?
Moulting will often start when the days start to get shorter in autumn. Moulting ensures your bird has new plumage when winter arrives. This new plumage will maximise the insulation of the skin, and make your bird resistant to the poor weather conditions of winter.

In the wild, a bird will need approximately 4 to 6 weeks to change all its feathers. Birds in captivity can take a lot longer. Birds use a lot of energy while moulting, so it is very important to make sure your bird recovers from this period as fast as possible. Otherwise, there is a possibility that it might become severely weakened. It is possible for a bird to become so weak that it will eventually die.

Problems during moulting
Problems during moulting can have different causes. A major cause lies in insufficient nutrients. A bird going through moulting needs a lot of vitamins and building materials to build new feathers and they are also far more prone to infections.
Moulting will start when the days grow shorter and lights get switched on in our homes earlier in the day. The constitution of a bird that is moulting may get confused by our imposed, artificial conditions. Because the days lengthen for birds under the influence of artificial light, they may think spring is in the air, and stop moulting, despite the process not being completely finished. To prevent these problems, it is important to keep your bird in a position where it can follow the daily rhythm of day and night. Birds in living rooms can be covered late in the afternoon and at night to disturb their rhythm as little as possible.
A third cause can lie in housing the bird in a position that suffers from temperature fluctuations or a lot of draughts. Birds should not be kept in such places. A bird will flourish in a spot with a constant temperature and little draught.

Moulting aids for birds
A number of products are available to help your bird get through its moulting period:

Beaphar Multi-Vit for birds and Beaphar Multi-Vit for parrots and large parakeets are vitamin supplements that make sure the bird will always have enough vitamins at its disposal. While moulting, birds especially need vitamin A, D3 and E. These vitamins are adequately provided for in these supplements.
Because birds, like man, have less resistance to infection in winter, it is very important to feed your bird with extra vitamins during these months.
Beaphar Multi-Vit improves the resistance and condition of birds, which helps them to survive winter in good health.

Bogena Fortified Egg Food(for canaries and parakeets) is a valuable addition to your bird’s daily ration. It is important to feed your bird with supplements, to replace all the extra energy needed to grow new feathers.