New bird owner

[Tina L]

Hi, I was looking for some information on the molting and blood feathers. I'm a little confused about the whole molting thing. I just want to understand so that I can take care of my "Green cheek conure" when this happens. I'm not sure of sex yet so sometimes its a he and other days a she. Not quite three months old. Loves to bite me. Does real good on somedays and not so good on others. I work full time and balance a house with two children, husband and a barn full of cows. I wanted something that I could become more personal with so I got Cookie. I've done a lot of reading, just knot sure on the molting thing.

[Shutterbug]

Usually the birds molt twice a year. The first molt starts around 6 months with the adult molt usually by one year but sometimes takes up to 2 years to get all the adult feathers in. You dont need to do anything special when they are molting except bring the vacuum out more often and it seems they molt forever. You will know because you will see the extra feathers around and alot of the little white ones that we know as down. I bath them a little more often when they are molting whether they want it or not since it helps with the discomfort of the new pin feathers (they get itchy and prickly) and it helps keep the dander down which also helps with our human allergies.

Blood feathers are a little different and all I know is that if they break the bird could potentially bleed out. I have cockatiels as well as my other birds and they have a tendency to have "night frights" which basically is where they freak out for no apparent reason and with all the flapping and freaking they break feathers and bleed like crazy. Have corn starch handy and if a feather breaks just apply it to the end of the feather and hold it there until it clots. I've done this on several occasions with them and they tend to trust out hands and let you do what needs to be done. my Baily was not hand tame the first time but she let me snuggle with her and hold her wing til the bleeding stopped.

You will do fine and they are so loving. good luck and welcome to this board and the wonderful world of being owned by our fids (feathered kids)

[Tina L]

Thanks so much for the information on the molting. I'm going to be nervious when that time comes a guess just more afraid of the blood feathers cause I don't want anything to happen to him/her.
I wasn't quite sure on how I was suppose to go about posting any thing so I hope I'm doing it all right.

[lola31]

hi, welcome to the board, and yes your doing it right
if i were you i would always have some corn starch in the house in case of a blood feather breakage, my little cinnamon green cheek broke one the other week and i panicked as it seemed like a lot of blood but thanks to the board here my panic was short lived and pepper is fine. as for the moult there's nothing extra that you need to do although as shutterbug says they can get a little prickly and may be in a little bit of a bad mood while moulting due to the discomfort. i too found bathing extra helped and pepper was willing to bathe every day, you should also make sure that your baby gets a good diet and a good nights sleep during the moult as it can take quite a bit of energy to grow in new feathers.