MCCORMICKLOFTS
122 posts
Jul 24, 2004
9:26 PM
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All pigeons and all birds molt, and it usually starts the minute the days start getting shorter which was in late June. The heat usually does it too. Most flyers fly their bird right through the molt, especially the current year's crop of youngsters. Some will give their older teams a break or just fly them now and then. In most cases, the molt will have little effect on the bird's performance, or their breeding ability. The molt can add unneeded stress to weaker breeders, but most folks, including myself breed right through summer and the molt. Most breeders won't go into a full dump of feathers until they are broken up or the days start to really get short. The number one thing you should do during the molt is to make sure and supply a good amount of oil seeds such as safflower and/or rape seed as well as a good amount of protein seeds such as peas. This allows them to grow in really good new feathers. One thing to consider as well is that often an established kit will go stiff in the heavy part of the molt, or in some cases the hot bird will suddenly crash on you. If you don't have the experience yet, then observation is your best friend. Just keep an eye on your breeders. If they look stressed, then give them a break. Same for the older kit birds, if they look like they are really heavy in the molt and no enjoying life, give them a break. In the weeks that follow they will shape up and back in tune.
Brian.
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