FREE shipping on orders over $100
Sign up to our newsletter
180-day guarantee
Molting is a part of the parakeet’s yearly cycle, and involves the gradual replacement of all the feathers. The process is gradual to ensure that the bird is still able to fly and keep warm as it molts. A parakeet should never have bald patches during this time - if they do this could indicate that they are either ill or stressed out. New feathers appear as white, sharp stubs known as pin-feathers. These cause an odd, spiky look.
As a parakeet molts, they gradually replace every single one of their feathers. Larger feathers will collect at the bottom of the cage and the smaller, downy feathers will drift across your furniture and floor, so slight and insubstantial that they are almost impossible to sweep up. A wet cloth will help, but a vacuum cleaner is the best way to get rid of these, as long as your birds don’t fly into a panic every time they hear or see one that is.
Like all birds, parakeets have an annual molt
A molt usually takes two to three weeks to complete. With primary and tail feathers dropping out, your bird may not feel as confident flying, so don’t get worried if they seem a little perch-bound. A bird that is used to flying around your living room may opt for a quiet night in; and, again, this is totally normal. They may also take on a spiky look as the new pin feathers thirst through the depleted head and neck feathers
You can assist your parakeet during this time by making sure their food bowl is topped up and that they have access to a mineral block. As these things help promote strong, healthy feather growth.
Parakeet Molt Problems
Sometimes this molting process may stall, usually due to malnutrition or stress. The neck and head regions will look threadbare, and new pin feathers may have black or brown tips. If you happen to notice any abnormal feather growth or feather loss, you should report this to a vet, who will diagnose the problem and recommended an action to get your parakeet molting healthily again.
Some birds may develop a condition called “French Molt”, in which feathers drop out and don’t grow back. See the Parakeet Feathers French molt section, below.
Parakeet Behavior When Molting
First time parakeet keepers may worry when their birds’ first moult comes about, as their personalities often change and their energy may ebb. Molting doesn’t cause them any physical discomfort, but tends to make them more passive than usual. Molting birds will often sit for long periods without saying or doing much. Older birds usually take the opportunity to get some more sleep. In some cases, a bird may be jumpier than usual, and may panic at sudden noise or movement. Angry squawks and attempts to bite your hand will greet your attempts to pacify them, so it’s best to let nature run its course.
Comments
Los, 3 October 2024
My parakeet named Tito doesn’t want to whistle after we do it and he’s sleeping after waking up. I wonder why?
Muhammad, 6 August 2024
Budgies generally become more puffy so the feathers have more room to fall. The feathers fall in flight or the budgies scratch/preen them off to.They also just fall off like hair fall of ours.
Muhammad, 6 August 2024
@Theresa, There's no need to stress over the change in attitude.As stated birds become sluggish/play when rarely in mood.Id recommend feeding the lil puff some cucumber and getting a perch that they can scratch themselves on.Try approaching them in a happier mood and try to scratch the pins so dandruff and wax comes off a bit.if they no want,u no do.theyll be fine in a couple of months/next month make sure to provide calcium and vitamins(fruits n stuff). Another person asked about black spots on feathers,perhaps it's dirt or something.you asked of mites that generally harm the birbs beak and feet,see if they're turning crusty.Apply olive oil on it's nose and give the bird sprays in warm room (6-7 Neem plant leaves soaked in 1liter water for a few hours).if no help get vet ofc.
Theresa, 16 May 2024
hi! my parakeet male (miep) almost 1 year is molting, i feel this distance from him and its making me super sad bc when i get home from work he usually is happy to see me and chip chirps away. He doesn’t want to play peekaboo he isn’t coming to my calls. We don’t cage him during the day only night and i’ve been finding him at the highest purch available which he doesn’t really go to bc it’s by the ceiling. but a week ago i did a grab bc i wanted to check is nails. its only the second time ive ever grabbed him the other time was a night terror when i first got him. could he still be upset with me? i feel really sick to my stomach bc im starting to think he is sick. there are feathers everywhere. The first time i met him and this happened i took him to the vet which was fine bc he needed an initial vet visit but he had a clean bill of health. and i CANNOT afford a vet not now or the next three months. my bills are insane. anyone have a parakeet they treat like a child and know of this behavioral issues/molting please reach it! ty also i’ve been so insanely stressed. and im a bit worried he might have picked this up. but he usually relieves my stress. so now im insane. please note me he is super chill.
Jackie, 17 November 2022
When molting, do parakeets help the feathers fall out or do they fall out on their own?