Greenwing Molting?

[kendrafitz]

First off, I apologize for being absent lately. As often happens, life has just gotten away from me lately. :) I am hoping to have more free time soon.

Rosie has been molting constantly since I met her (16 months ago). Her head always has pin feathers. Her wings, tail and body also molt constantly. Not profusely, mind you, but constantly. She is working on her second set of tail feathers and I think we may be starting on a new set of wing feathers. She lost about 2 - 3 wing feathers this week I think. Right now she is very cranky b/c her entire neck, back and head are covered with SHARP pins.

She showers just about daily. We preen her daily, usually several times a day. She is usually not bothered by it unless it is a bunch coming in at the same time, like now.

So I just wanted to see if anyone else that has a GW has an opinion? I don't know if she is just going to be a slow, all the time molting girl or if this is not normal? Since Rosie is my first bird, I am a bit in the dark about this. I just don't know if this is something that I should be concerned about.

Thanks!!

[Macawfancy]

Hi, I have a GW, as for time of year they molt, it really is bird specific living in captivity. Some birds can molt lightly year round and others have a heavy molt once or twice a year. Most birds will replace their feathers once a year. By the way, for the regrowth of feathers, Almonds provide much needed calcium and are beneficial during the molting process.

[kendrafitz]

Thank you! I didn't know about almonds being so beneficial for molting. But fortunately for both of us, I have been giving her a ton of them since she loves them. :) I guess maybe she is just a light year round chick. Thanks again, I was beginning to worry something was wrong

[Blancaej]

I feel like Savannah molts all year, too. I think heavier though during certain times of year like spring and fall. Right now she has a load of pinnies and seems to be molting a lot. So I think what you are going through is pretty normal. I didn't know about the almonds either. Good to know! Thanks Macawfancy! Luckily for me, Savannah loves almonds, too!

[Mare]

I don't have a macaw but my Sassy Goffin's has heavy molts. They make her miserable PLUS she has been known to be somewhat of a plucker of her chest feathers. My husband discovered a product called AviCalm, (on line). It's a nutritional supplement that I put in her water, for anti-stress, ant-pick and anti-aggression. I remember asking if anyone here had heard of it or used it and someone, may have been rescued, can't remember, came back with yes she has heard of it and used it in conjunction with another product called "Featheriffic" and had great results. I ordered that one also.

Sassy is now beautifully feathered and her molts have been so much easier for her. She can still act like the little "B" word but her irritation at her own body has disappeared :). She is much more comfortable than she was.

[kendrafitz]

Thanks Mare! I am going to check those products out.

Rosie has been absolutely miserable this week. Which in turn is making us all miserable. I understand why, she has a bunch of barbs poking through her skin and then poking into her skin. It has been a rough week to say the least. Today she started screaming for absolutely no reason. Ususally it is if she is calling me, but I was in the room with her every time she did it. I am guessing just b/c she is in pain and mad.

So I had the bird screaming, the kids screaming at Rosie from their rooms where they were hiding from the noise, my husband and I screaming at the kids to ignore her, and then the cycle would start again. It was not a fun morning at the Fitz Funny Farm. Sigh....

[Blancaej]

Sounds like quite the morning for you!

[kendrafitz]

There's a reason the I call us the Fitz Funny Farm! lol ;)

[Mare]

Do you mist Rosie? When I picked Amigo up from the vet's office, I noticed she sold a mist that contains aloe vera juice. I bought one, I think I can make it for 1/100th of the cost, but I like it! The birds fluff up, move it around on their feathers and I understand that aloe is good for their skin. This mist contains water and aloe, that's all.

[kendrafitz]

No, she showers almost every day. I tried putting aloe on her after her showers, but she doesn't like to be touched when she is wet. An aloe mist sounds like a good idea, she may like that. Thanks!!