Looking through the topics on moulting I cannot see anywhere that specifies how often (that is, time between moults) is considered normal. My Fitz had his first moult in late Feb/March and has now been moulting again for the last two weeks. He otherwise seems quite happy and healthy! Any advice appreciated.

From what I understand the period between moults can vary a lot from one budgie to the next depending on many factors. For example an indoor caged budgie might moult less frequently that an outdoor aviary budgie as a result of temperature variations, differences in diet and exercise, and just plain old different environment. My budgie is about 18 months old. He is an indoor caged budgie and has had three decent moults (the most recent one being the heaviest by far!) where he's got all scruffy and spikey looking, and just a couple of little light ones where his cage is covered in fluffy feathers, but he has no spikey patches.

 

Others here might be able to add to this and describe the nature and frequency of thier own budgies' moults to help you get a bit of an idea of how different they can be.

From what I understand the period between moults can vary a lot from one budgie to the next depending on many factors. For example an indoor caged budgie might moult less frequently that an outdoor aviary budgie as a result of temperature variations, differences in diet and exercise, and just plain old different environment. My budgie is about 18 months old. He is an indoor caged budgie and has had three decent moults (the most recent one being the heaviest by far!) where he's got all scruffy and spikey looking, and just a couple of little light ones where his cage is covered in fluffy feathers, but he has no spikey patches.

 

Others here might be able to add to this and describe the nature and frequency of thier own budgies' moults to help you get a bit of an idea of how different they can be.

 

 

Agreed... and STRESS has a big impact on moulting too!!!

I thought that they moulted once every year, but i suppose when there body are new to enviroments (e.g inside then been taken outside) they tend to moult. Every budgies body is unique. HOwever it wont be good if they got "stuck in the moult" (start moulting at an old age and die because of lack of energy)

Agreed with the above. I think light plays a role too - in the wild they would respond to changing day lengths which would indicate changing seasons. Indoors, the length of time they experience light versus dark would vary much more than in the wild (their bodies get confused).

 

Milly and Squee seem to go through three or four big moults a year (less now since I moved them to their own room with natural lighting, and where they are less affected by my dad coming home after doing shift work). Other members here have birds that seem to constantly drop a feather or two. It really depends on a range of things.

Edited May 18, 200915 yr by Chrysocome

Agreed with the above. I think light plays a role too - in the wild they would respond to changing day lengths which would indicate changing seasons. Indoors, the length of time they experience light versus dark would vary much more than in the wild (their bodies get confused). Milly and Squee seem to go through three or four big moults a year (less now since I moved them to their own room with natural lighting, and where they are less affected by my dad coming home after doing shift work). Other members here have birds that seem to constantly drop a feather or two. It really depends on a range of things.

Sorry Chrysocome - I mucked something up when I was trying to post.thank you everyone for your replies.I will move Fitz into a different room in the evening. Even though he is well covered, there's still a lot of light and activity going on. That could be the problem. Thanks again.