French Moult

Hi All

At the end of this breeding season I found that I was experiencing a few french moulters so I've take a couple snaps of feathers showing typical french moult symptoms as there seems to be some "stress" moulting being quoted around when in fact I think you will find it to be french moult.

Frnch moult can affect chicks in various ways depending on the age that they are exposed to the virus (YES IT IS A VIRUS!!!!!). Usually the older chicks are the least affected or maybe not affected at all. I have had nests where the oldest chick is fully feathered and does not show any flight tail loss with the youngest of 5 chicks being completely bald! Death of hatchlings around 10days old can often be FM too and FM can cause higher numbers of addled eggs than you might normally experience. Chicks that are affected later may only lose their flights and tails after leaving the nest.

Usually those that do not lose body feathering but only flights and tails recover very well indeed and go on to being 100% recovered. Baldies in my experience do not recover and if they do not die they go on to become your typical "runners".

If you suspect FM in your flock, look at the feathers of your young fledglings. FM affected feathers usually show the classic pinched end and often have dried blood in the shaft of the feather. Also these feathers come away from the bird readily without much pulling compared to normal feathers with are much more strongly anchored in comparison.

In the two photo's below you can see normal feathers on the left and FM feathers on the right. Note the very typical pinching of the top FM feather. This is often present without the blood in the feather shaft also.

Edited May 14, 200916 yr by KAZ