When is my Alex meant to molt for the first time?

[sirlizzie]

I apologize if this has been answered, but couldn't find a specific answer when I searched. My Alexandrine is 14 months old and has shown no sign of molting. Is it a case of each bird doing it at different times? It is almost summer here (New Zealand), and everything I have read says he should have molted at an earlier age or in Spring. I'm not concerned for his health or anything, would just really like to know if he's a bit special needs or normal! Cheers.

[Wolf]

The breeding season for this species of parrot in Australia and New Zealand is just beginning as it runs from November/ December to March/ April and molting normally occurs after that. Based on this, you are still a few months away from the time of molting.
I hope that this answers your question and proves to be useful to you.

[liz]

I have fluffy down feathers all over the house. I know Rambo's ancestry is from Belize. I don't know where Myrtle's is from.

I have been thinking about it for a while but I really only have 3 species. What do you think about starting a thread on each species and whoever has one can post on it? Also one on diet, lighting and enrichment. Then I won't be butting into some one else's thread.

[Pajarita]

Going by his age, he should be going through or be ready to start his juvenile molt (psittaculas start later than other species) now but I don't know if you keep him to a solar schedule or what and that is what determines molt, breeding, resting seasons in captivity...

In the wild (India, Pakistan, etc), they always molt after the breeding season, which is the rule for all parrots BUT these birds breed in the winter -from November to April- because the weather is cool but dry and, in May, the tropical storms start with monsoon season following right after them (weather that is real bad for raising babies - thus, their breeding in the winter as it's much better weather and better food availability) so they end up molting during the rainy season when it's VERY hot. I don't know if temperature affects their molt (do you keep him at a steady temperature all year round?), it might, it does to canaries (they would go into molt at 85 degres or higher regardless of daylength) but I don't know about parrots because all of mine are kept at a strict solar schedule which reverts them to photoperiodism as their main breeding trigger.

Two things to keep in mind with psittaculas is that they don't develop the ring until their second molt although some take three molts and only get it when they are fully adults (at three years of age). And the other one is that they look TERRIBLE while molting so, when it happens and he looks like a swarm of moths attacked him, don't worry too much because it's normal.

[KabTak47]

What do you think about starting a thread on each species and whoever has one can post on it? Also one on diet????

[Pajarita]

Yes, a sticky (do we even have them here? I'm not sure...) on each species is a great idea. We will have one on diet as soon as I do the gloop one with pictures (which, BTW, will be soon forthcoming as I am running out )

[Wolf]

I guess that I had best get my tail in gear and broach the topic of stickies with Michael, as well as the possibility of sub forums for the different species of parrots.

[Wolf]

I asked Michael about the possibility of species specific sub forums last night along with some other issues that I can't share but here is his reply to me

First of all, I think the differences between species are far smaller than the difference between keeping parrots and other pets. Questions should be broken down by topic rather than species. Instead of asking how do I get my African Grey to step up, the question belongs in training about how to get any parrot to step up. Completely species specific questions are rare but there is already a place for them. Which brings me to the second point, the forum is fairly small. I dont want to thin things out too much. Keeping kt the way it is encourages everyone to visit all departments. Whereas if there was an eclectus forum, i wouldnt be bothered to check it. If someone asks how to tame an eclectus, they would miss my input. Keeping things more general ensures more viewership and participation.

I copied this directly from the post that he replied to me in, so those are his words and not mine. He di also say that if you have a good argument for having the sub forums then he will at least listen. His opinion can be swayed by a good enough argument. So feel free to state your case, if you wish to.

[Pajarita]

Well, he is correct on what he says but he is focusing only on taming/training. There are differences between species as to housing requirements, social needs, diet, disease, breeding behaviors, etc and those are lost when they all go into the Parrot Species forum. People like to go to the forum that is specific to their bird and read what other people have posted/asked there. It's more easily accessible than having to scroll down page after page after page and seems more dedicated to their needs. There is a connection there that is missing from a 'general' forum and bird people are very much into 'connection'.