can someone explain molting?!

[sphinxface]

Okay, so lovies are supposed to go though big molts at 6 months I think is what I've been reading.. When I first got him he shed a lot of feathers, I didn't know what was normal or what was a molt, but most of the time he doesn't leave any feathers on the cage floor... A few days ago there were quite a few feathers down there, but it only appeared after one day, now its gone....
How does molting work? how often does it happen? are there big and small ones?!

[linda040899]

Molting is the process by which birds replace feathers. With lovebirds, it generally happens twice/yr. The first molt begins at roughly age 4 months with youngsters get their adult coloring. Most of the feathers are gradually replaced over a period of several weeks to a month. New feathers can be seen encased in keritan (white, waxy feather covering) until the bird removes that casing. Keritan is made from protein much like the human fingernail. The next molt will not take place until the bird is a yr. old. After that, feathers are usually replaced every 6 months.

Keep in mind that not every single feather is replaced at each molt. Feathers are actually constantly being replaced, although not as many as twice/yr. It's not uncommon to find a few feathers here and there and then see nothing for a while. It's like humans replacing hair.

Hope this helps.

[sphinxface]

When I first got my lovie, he seemed to have his normal coloring and all his normal feathers... Does that mean he was older than 4 months when I got him? or maybe he finished his molt before I got him?

[linda040899]

When I first got my lovie, he seemed to have his normal coloring and all his normal feathers... Does that mean he was older than 4 months when I got him? or maybe he finished his molt before I got him?
Juvenile lovebirds display soft, muted coloring until age 16 weeks (4 months). At that time, you start to see "freckles" in the area of the facial mask as the brighter adult feathers replace the softer colored baby feathering. (This applies mainly to Peachies.) If your lovebird was already showing adult color, age was most likely closer to 5 - 5.5 months, not 4. After that first molt, it's almost impossible to determine the age of a lovebird unless the breeder or place of purchase is willing to tell you the truth.

[Tango's_Mom]

ok, sorry to hijack but this is making me think, when I got Tango they told me he was between 5-6 months, but when I got him his colours were more muted then they are now and I definately saw the freckling and there has been a definate change in the the colours particularily around the face and bib, I didn't really notice much of a change in the rest of his body though, the green was pretty vibrant when I got him, is it likely that he was actually younger than I thought when I got him. He didn't have any black on his beak, although the very tip did look a little darker.

Also, I have a friend who just got a new lovebird, I know he's been here looking around, what age do they lose the black on the beak? because he has a little dutch blue with quite a bit of black and I'd like to be able to tell him about how old he might be.

[linda040899]

The most striking change of coloring at the first molt of a Peachfaced Lovebird is in the facial mask area. If Tango was just getting a few of his adult feathers when you first got him, chances are that he was younger than what you were told. At age 5 months, the face coloring is about 50% baby color, 50% adult color. By 5.5-6 months, the color change is usually complete. You won't see a huge change in body color, even though it happens.

As for the black splotch on the beaks of young Lovebirds, it's gone by 3.5 months. If there's still a lot, the age is probably between 2.5 - 3 months of age. If you can post a very current front photo of the bird in question, I should be able to tell you how old the baby is within about half of a week.

[Tango's_Mom]

The most striking change of coloring at the first molt of a Peachfaced Lovebird is in the facial mask area. If Tango was just getting a few of his adult feathers when you first got him, chances are that he was younger than what you were told. At age 5 months, the face coloring is about 50% baby color, 50% adult color. By 5.5-6 months, the color change is usually complete. You won't see a huge change in body color, even though it happens.

As for the black splotch on the beaks of young Lovebirds, it's gone by 3.5 months. If there's still a lot, the age is probably between 2.5 - 3 months of age. If you can post a very current front photo of the bird in question, I should be able to tell you how old the baby is within about half of a week.

Would it make a difference that Tango is a peachy hybrid? I'm pretty certain the other half is masked.

I don't have a pic of Curaco that I can link so that anyone besides me can see it, but I'll try later to see if I can get one up in my imagestation account and post it.

[linda040899]

Would it make a difference that Tango is a peachy hybrid?
Jenna,
Yes, that would make a difference. Tango being part Peachie and part Mask will molt differently than a lovebird that is all Peachfaced. With Green Masked Lovies, the head is black and will not change shades. That first molt is practically invisible as far as coloring. There may not even be much black on the beak, if there's any at all. With young Blue Masks, the white feathering looks greyish white and will molt out to pure white but even that change is subtle unless you are familiar with what young Blue Masks look like.

[thebubbleking]

I have to say for me sunshine who is full peachie had a dramatic change loseing alot of dull yellow for shiney greens, but for boo who is half ficher the change was alot more subtle and mostly in her tail and wing tips :)