The molting process in parrots is triggered by the sun’s UVA and UVB rays or artificial UV lighting.
A parrot will molt feathers symmetrically on the wings, followed by the body and tail. The gradual feather molting sequence means parrots can maintain their balance and aerodynamics during flight.
Sometimes parrots molt partially, only replacing worn-out and damaged feathers in readiness for the spring. This gives parrots healthy plumage for courtship at the start of the breeding season.
Most psittacines molt 1-2 times a year in the fall and spring, which takes 6-8 weeks. Small birds (like budgies) complete their molts in 2-3 weeks, while the largest species take up to 6 months.
Smaller birds molt more regularly than larger birds because it’s less resource-intensive. African greys and macaws molt every 12-24 months, while cockatiels molt up to 3 times a year.
The molt is an itchy and uncomfortable time, so parrots often grow withdrawn or act out of character.
What Does Parrot Molting Look Like?
According to Avian Physiology, molting is a symmetrical process, meaning any feathers shed on one side of the body will be shed from the same place on the other side.
The symmetrical nature of molting evolved to safeguard parrots’ chances of survival in the wild.
This ensures parrots are capable of balanced flight. Missing just 1-2 flight feathers on one wing can adversely affect the equilibrium of parrots when airborne.
Identifying a molt can be difficult, depending on the stage reached in the molting cycle. Body feathers are overlapped, and neighboring feathers may disguise bare patches of skin.
A close inspection enables an owner to discern new feathers from old ones:
- As feathers age, they become duller in color and lose their natural vitality.
- The tips and edges of feathers may become frayed or bent.
If isolated patches of feather loss aren’t symmetrical, finding feathers at the bottom of the cage likely has an alternative explanation, like parasites, bacterial infection, injury, and feather-destructive behavior.
Is My Parrot Molting or Plucking?
Barbering happens when a parrot forcefully removes its feathers to self-soothe and cope with boredom or emotional distress. At the outset, it’s easy to mistake feather molting and plucking in parrots.
You can tell feather picking and molting apart based on these signs:
- Non-symmetrical feather loss, often from one targeted area (like the left wing or top of the chest).
- Barbered feathers will be broken, damaged, or stripped. Barbering can damage the follicles, meaning that feathers will never regrow in that area. Usually, spiky pin feathers will grow through.
- Bald patches of skin are accompanied by irritation, redness, and bleeding.
It’s a red flag if a parrot sheds feathers outside the normal molting season. However, UV light-blocking windows and artificial light can disturb the normal molting process of pet birds.
Parrot Molting Behavior
Molting is an uncomfortable experience, so a parrot’s behavior may change in certain ways:
- Itchier than normal, often rubbing itself against things.
- Moody and irritable.
- Defensive, perhaps lunging and nipping.
- Less active physically and makes fewer vocalizations.
A parrot’s behavior should normalize once the molting process has concluded. However, giving a pet parrot more alone time during this stressful and draining time is advised.
Is Molting Painful for Parrots?
A molt is uncomfortable, but when feathers are naturally allowed to fall out, it shouldn’t hurt. As the feather ages, the quill loosens in the shaft until it’s eventually shed.
Feathers pulled out prematurely will hurt, resulting in inflammation and bleeding. Unfortunately, this can interfere with the growth of replacement feathers due to damaged feather follicles.
Never attempt to assist a parrot by pulling out a feather, even if it is broken or hanging awkwardly.
Avoid petting when new pin feathers are growing because they’re very sensitive. Once the waxy keratin sheath has been removed, releasing the barbs, you can start petting the parrot again.
Solo parrots may struggle to remove this sheath from pin feathers on the back of their head and neck. Once the feather has formed, the pin sheaths will soften and flake off.
You can roll your fingers along the parrot’s head and neck to loosen and remove the sheaths. You can also mist the parrot with a spray bottle to ease itchiness and moisturize the skin.
Frequent misting during molting softens the waxy keratin sheath that covers the new pin feathers.
What Month Do Parrots Molt?
Most parrots molt in the fall, following the end of the breeding season. For U.S. citizens, September, October, and November are when parrots shed their feathers.
As stated by Oxford University Press, feather growth is extremely resource-intensive. Parrots that molt twice annually also do so in the spring when light levels increase, and food is abundant.
Most parrots molt after the breeding season has ended. According to the Journal of Comparative Physiology, even parrots that haven’t reproduced will usually molt at this time.
Parrots’ bodies still experience hormonal shifts due to the changing seasons and light availability. This instructs the parrot’s body that it’s time to renew dull and damaged feathers.
Pet parrots that get artificial UV light and consistent day-night cycles molt in sync with wild parrots. However, windows block UV rays, which can interfere with the time of year parrots molt.
How Long Do Parrots Molt?
The length of a molt is species-specific, but a full molt for small and medium-sized parrots usually takes about 6-8 weeks. Large parrot species, like macaws, can take up to 6 months to complete a molt.
How Often Do Parrots Molt?
Molting is a natural process where parrots shed old, worn-out feathers to make way for new, healthy ones. Since feathers can’t be repaired, they’ll eventually wear out, so parrots molt.
Replacing old feathers with new feathers increases the parrot’s chances of survival in the wild.
Aside from being essential for flight, feathers provide insulation from the elements and ward against parasites. Healthy feathers are also used for attracting mates during the breeding season.
Although parrots aren’t exposed to the same perils as wild parrots, their feathers still deteriorate. A pet parrot must have a safe and comfortable place to molt and regrow feathers.
Juvenile parrots will go through a special molt. Here, they shed the soft, fluffy down feathers and grow the feathers necessary to thrive as an adult. This type of molt only happens once in their lifetime.
Most parrots naturally molt their feathers 1-2 times a year. However, some psittacine species molt up to 3 times annually or once every 18-24 months.
Ensure parrots get more protein (for keratin) because the feathers account for up to 6% of a bird’s weight. Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E and minerals (zinc, iron, manganese, copper, and selenium) are also essential.
