my GCC is molting, need advice

[jessica313]

hello everyone, i have had my GCC for about 3 months now and i love him to death. i have noticed in the past week or so that he has begun his first molt since i have had him. i bought him at petco and they didnt have a hatch certificate for him but they told me they were "pretty sure" he was hatched in january. im pretty sure this is a molt and hes not plucking because i see these white things growing in that were not there before. these are pin feathers, right?
does this seem like the right time for a molt ?

anyway.. hes been a bit grouchy during this time, which i read is normal because its stressful for him (or her i dont know)

i have been giving him daily baths as i read that this helps relieve his itchyness.
i also read that i should help him by preening the top of his head because he cannot reach there himself. now, what exactly should i do to preen him?

i want to know if there is anything i can do special for him to help him get through this and make him more comfortable..
im still new to birds so i have never experienced a molting before.

any advice would be greatly apprechiated! thanks

jessica

[Conure & Macaw Mom]

Hi. From what I've heard thats kinda early for a first molt but I could be wrong. THey will a bit grouchy, mine is molting right now also. Bathes do help. The breeder told me to pinch the tip of the new pin feathers coming in after gently after your baby has taken a bath. She said it will help break them open. She said this helps. I'm pretty much new to birds to so this is the best I can do. Scratches help also. Mine never liked for me to scratch her before but since she has started molting, she loves for me to scratch, rub, etc. Hope this helps. Crystal

[jessica313]

thank you for responding so quickly!
i will def try what you said, pinching the top of the pin feathers.. hopefully this will help.
shadow has always loved when i scratch him so he'll probly like it even more now!

[Conure & Macaw Mom]

Your welcome. Crystal

[Valo's Moirana]

Valo has been recently growing in feathers all over the place as well... he's not molting (yet). he was hatched in may, so it would be kind of early for a molt.
i guess it's just the arrival of the fall here in colorado. i keep the temperature in the house warm, but it's not as warm as it used to be in the summer. upon petting, he currently feels like a cactus (another identity crisis? )
for preening help, i usually lightly scratch his head and neck with my finger and he loves that like crazy... he sits there and turns his head and just looks like a happy, happy boy. if shadow doesn't hold still for a head scratch when he's sitting on your finger, place him on a towel - you can also grab him carefully that way and he'll enjoy the scratches while being wrapped in a towel. it's mainly about the head and neck, since he can reach the other places easier... if you get him to allow you to scratch his head, he'll find out quickly how good it feels - head scratches are also a wonderful reward for good behavior besides praise (that way you don't have to offer treats during training)
if i come across a pin feather i CAREFULLY pinch the tip open. he likes that and holds still. i'm very careful with it though.

shadow looks very much like valo.... maybe they are brothers ;-)
hope this helps.....

[jessica313]

thanks for the advice! and awwww yea they do look a lot alike!!! maybe they were twins seperated at birth hahaha!!

[Valo's Moirana]

well, guess not twins if shadow was hatched in january.... valo's a little younger, hatched in may..... but: i also got him from petco and i was wondering if they came from the same breeder and could be brothers
what does shadow's band say?

[Monica]

Many young birds normally start molting at 6+ months of age, of course depending on climate and season this can vary buy a few months.

Besides daily bathes, you can also try putting 1 part aloe to 10 parts water to help soften the new feathers, and spray over birdy.

[Valo's Moirana]

great idea - didn't think of that.... guess i'll take out the scissors and start taking part of my aloe plant apart

[Monica]

Guess I probably should have mentioned Aloe Juice, but I have heard of some feeding small pieces of their aloe plant to their birds as is, or using the aloe from the plant on wounds.