Early moult | Apprentice Falconry Forums

jake1977
Licensed Falconer

Posts: 12

Early moult Jan 3, 2008 21:02:39 GMT -5

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Post by jake1977 on Jan 3, 2008 21:02:39 GMT -5

Was wondering if anyone has a had a red-tail that started moulting early or broke a primary feather and dropped a few other and started moulting

Please help as i am a apprentice and don't know much i did ask my sponsor but he has never heard of this either

miket307
Licensed Falconer

Posts: 575

Early moult Jan 4, 2008 8:24:38 GMT -5

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Post by miket307 on Jan 4, 2008 8:24:38 GMT -5

I saw some responses to a question like yours on another board.

Some of the questions asked were are you leaving the bird in a artificially lit room? Like in the garage or just inside in general where it may be getting more exposure to longer periods of light (incandescent or florescent lighting)? The photo-period (daylight hours) are IMO the main thing that triggers birds to begin to molt. It was also mentioned that if a bird is kept in low condition and then allowed to gorge, that can sometimes trigger a molt.

Do any of those conditions fit your case? I'm not all that experienced, so I'm not of much help but I thought I would pass that along.

Last Edit: Jan 4, 2008 8:25:36 GMT -5 by miket307

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jake1977
Licensed Falconer

Posts: 12

Early moult Jan 5, 2008 1:09:57 GMT -5

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Post by jake1977 on Jan 5, 2008 1:09:57 GMT -5

Thanks for the help I was able to get a hold of my vet and he explained that sometimes when they break a feather and hurt the wing (which 1 week ago she crashed really hard into the brush and broke two feathers on the same wing) that they will drop them and grow them back