Posted April 30, 200916 yr Went to the home of a member of my club today who had some birds for sale. I came home with 5 birds, 3 hens, 2 cocks. They are all young birds, some jsut finishing off a moult. I would not put any down to breed until Spetember, but here they are, Day 1 of Quarantine 1 light green cock, 1 cobalt opaline cock, 1 grey green cinnamon wing hen, 1 light green cinnamon wing hen, 1 light green opaline hen
April 30, 200916 yr They gorgeous! I really love the grey green cinnamon wing hen and the cobalt opaline cock. If you ever run out of room they are welcome here!
May 29, 200916 yr Author Well, one of my new birds was a gift, and here we are, a month later, and we can all see why. My hen, has french moult. She had dropped her flights, but as time has progressed she has lost some of her top (coloured) layer of feathers, exposing her white downy feathers. I have enver had a bird with French Moult before, so my questions are as follows: 1) If she was to join the aviary, would she expose others to French Moult? 2) She would pass it along to young, so should she never breed? 3) Is she worth keeping? I know that some people think that a bird that has no flights and cannot fly and is constantly losing feathers is "special", I am not sure I think like that. Any help here will be appreciated. I have read some other tpics of French Moult on here, but they never really answered questions in a way that really put my mind at ease.
May 29, 200916 yr i have got French Moults in my aviary rite now 1) If she was to join the aviary, would she expose others to French Moult? NO 2) She would pass it along to young, so should she never breed? NO i do not think so 3) Is she worth keeping? I know that some people think that a bird that has no flights and cannot fly and is constantly losing feathers is "special", I am not sure I think like that. no thay do not constantly losing feathers 95% off time thay grow back 5%thay do not thay have flights on one side
May 30, 200916 yr Author This bird has begin to lose feathers, originating out from under her wing. When a green bird lifts its wing, you can see the white downy feathers. On this bird, it sits is wings flat against her body, and the downy patch has grown, so it visible now, not just under her wing, but around on her front as well.
May 30, 200916 yr Great birds Dave I dont know about the FM hen... I am still pretty confused about the whole FM issue. From what i have heard it is a good thing to have some FM birds in the flock as they help the other birds develop an immunity - just dont add the bird close to breeding. i believe it takes about 6 months for the virus to clear from a flock.
May 30, 200916 yr Nice birds Dave They say french moult is a virus but who knows. I haven't had it as yet so I guess I am lucky.
May 30, 200916 yr I have never had a french moult budgie that lost feathers down to the down feathers. Are you sure its french moult and not PBFD ?
May 30, 200916 yr honestly not sure. what should i do with her? That is the big question Time for expert advice: Take her to the vet!
May 30, 200916 yr Vet Dave. We are currently dealing with our vet with a princess parrot of ours who seems to have PBFD...its a worry, and contagious. Your hen seems to be dealing with more than the average FM to me. Edited May 30, 200916 yr by KAZ
May 30, 200916 yr Author You know what, there is no cure for PBFD. If the vet says it is, then she has to be put down. i do not want to put my flock at risk. She was a free bird from a breeder. Only one choice, and i am going to do it now.
