But the bigger the feather, the more taxing it is to replace it. That's why huge birds such as eagles and pelicans don't grow a new set of flight feathers each year; they restore individual primaries and secondaries on the wings in a staggered manner, taking multiple years to refresh. The juvenile stage refers to the period right after a fledgling leaves the nest.
For some species it lasts just a few days; for others it can take up to a year. Take the young Western Sandpiper , for example: It's crisp and clean-looking, almost like a recently detailed and upholstered car. After a bird goes through its first juvenile molt, it only changes feathers sequentially, which means it always has something old and something new on its body. Wear is another way. In autumn, the gorgeous Snow Bunting molts into a buff and white plumage.
But during the winter, those buffy tips rub away to reveal the underlying black and white breeding suit of the male. There's a small, but important difference between the two terms. Wear is mechanical deterioration from flapping and environmental elements that causes the feather tips to fray. Generally, paler plumes wear more quickly because they lack melanin, a pigment that strengthens cells and protects them from damage. Fading, on the other hand, is a photochemical reaction, where UV radiation from the sun breaks down a feather's structure.
Lice and bacteria also contribute to feather loss. Thankfully, I quickly figured out that this was not the case. Feather molting in birds is a complicated process that can vary between individuals, species and years.
Most birds will molt once or twice a year, and each molt is classified as a partial molt or complete molt. Partial molt means that only some of the feathers are replaced in that cycle, and the others will be replaced in the next cycle that year or the following year.
Feathers are composed of keratin, the same protein that makes hair and fingernails, and they are under constant stress and subject to a great deal of damage. Daily activities such as rubbing against bushes or trees, preening , flying, and dust bathing all subject feathers to friction that causes wear, and the keratin weakens as the feathers age.
Unlike hair and fingernails that continually regenerate and grow, a feather is a complete structure and no longer grows once it reaches full size. As damage accumulates, the feather's aerodynamic and insulating properties are compromised, and the feather must be shed so a new one can take its place. There are four general types of molting in a bird's life cycle:. Not all birds undergo all types of molting, but those that do may spend significant parts of the year experiencing various feather changes.
The exact cycles, frequency, and timing of molts vary for different species, but every bird shares some similarities when molting. In general, feathers are molted in a symmetrical pattern across the bird's wings, tail, and body so it retains its balance for flight. The entire cycle typically takes weeks, though ducks often molt in as little as two weeks with a brief flightless period during the accelerated molting.
Pelicans and parrots have some of the longest molt cycles and may take up to two years to replace all their feathers. As feathers age, the quills loosen in their shafts and it is not until they are ready to fall out that new feathers begin to grow. The new feathers then create visible gaps in a bird's plumage, particularly in the wings and tail where shorter feathers are more noticeable. A molting bird may have trouble balancing, feel vulnerable, and undergo temporary but obvious personality changes.
Dry climate may also make the process of losing and growing new feathers uncomfortable thanks to the brittle sheath and dry skin. Molting looks different for different species. You can look for molting bird supplements, like FeatheredUp! Molting birds need foods rich in protein, calcium, and amino acids to ensure that it gets all the nutrients it needs.
Since molting is a stressful time, a calming formula such as the Parrot Calming Formula will help take the edge off and reduce anxiety. This non-addictive formula is not a sedative. Offering your bird daily baths also helps a lot!
Baths soften the uncomfortable dry, brittle shafts as the growing feather matures. They also moisturize the skin so that it comfortably stretches as the thick new shaft emerges from the follicle. Try giving your bird daily steamed showers or spraying them with Aloe Vera Spray during the molt. Another great solution is to steep our Parrot Calming Herbs to make a tea that you can spray on the affected area.
This blend is made from a variety of herbs that are known for soothing the nerves, but it also contains alfalfa, which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Simply brew it, cool it down, and spray your birds' feathers daily throughout the molt.
A stressed out, molting bird can get cold and rapidly deteriorate in health. Offer a heated perch or a bird cage warmer for your bird to cozy up to. During this stressful time, allow your birds' energy reserves to go toward growing beautiful feathers rather than trying to stay warm.
These two thermostatically controlled bird warming devices will come in handy. Additional natural remedies to reduce plucking include:. Always consult your vet first if your bird starts plucking to determine the root cause of the behavior. One way to tell if your bird's feather loss is due to molting is to watch how it manipulates or preens its feathers. Preening is the natural process of grooming and caring for feathers and birds can spend hours a day preening. After all, every bird has thousands of feathers.
And, each feather has thousands of barbs and barbules that need to constantly be realigned so that all feathers lay correctly and are ready for flight. When feathers aren't laying just so, it feels uncomfortable. In preening, a bird uses its preening gland, if it. Then, it finds a feather that needs grooming and quickly runs its tongue down the length of the feather to realign barbs and barbules.
Each feather is manipulated for just a few seconds with this repetitive motion. So, instead of quickly realigning a feather, the bird spends an excessive amount of time on each feather. Consistent, compulsive feather handling is the biggest indicator of over-preening. There is a compulsive nature to over-preening that is different from the natural preening process of cleaning and realigning each feather. Instead of moving the feather quickly through the mouth to realign barbs and barbules, the bird takes on more.
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