The Moulting Sequence

[Devo1956]

This is for new members, that may be worried about this part of the year. Feathers all over the loft, is part of your birds cycle of life.

Head and neck:
The process normally begins around the head, neck, and chest with small body contour feathers. Wings: Flight feathers drop in a strict, orderly sequence. Primary flight feathers start with the innermost feather closest to the body and move outward one by one, while secondary feathers often shed from the outside in.

Tail and body:
Tail feathers usually begin dropping while the wing cycle is underway, ensuring the bird retains enough balance and flight capability throughout the transition.

Physiological Strain and Care
High energy demand: Growing new keratin-rich feathers raises a pigeon's basal metabolic rate by 20% to 30%, placing heavy stress on the liver and immune system.

Dietary needs:
Birds require high-protein mixtures containing approximately 30% legumes, essential amino acids like methionine and cystine, and oil-rich seeds for silky plumage

Bathing and rest:
Pigeons experience itchy pin feathers and appreciate regular baths to soften follicles and assist new feather growth.

[Diamond Dave]

Good post Dev.
I race my birds on natural and keep them racing until they are ready to throw the 3rd from last flight. You can 'hear' the consequences of losing thst 3rd and 2nd last
when they take off during normal excercise.
I think I have asked this question before but can't remember the reply.... How long does it take for one primary flight to grow back and do all 10 primaries take the same time?

[Devo1956]

Dave, some information.

It takes about 3 to 5 weeks (21 to 37 days) for an individual primary flight feather to grow back completely, and the 10 primary feathers do not all take the same amount of time

The inner primaries (1 through 3) grow a bit faster, while the larger, outer primaries (8 through 10) take longer to develop fully

Do All 10 Primaries Take the Same Time?
No, they vary: The outer feathers are longer and larger, requiring more time and energy from the pigeon's body to reach full maturity than the smaller inner primaries

The Molting Sequence:
Pigeons replace their 10 primary flights one by one, starting from the innermost primary (number 1) near the body and moving outward to the 10th tip

[Diamond Dave]

Cheers Dev.

[king]

Having kept pigeons for well over 50 years. The only Sequence ALL pigeons follow is throwing flights in order (unless it's a latebred which will start where it left off). But even then a very fit bird can throw 2 at a time. Pigeons are individuals their ALL moult slightly different. The majority do, do most of the body first, followed by head and tail. I've had birds moult out and you hardly notice them (just as in true Nature) replacing feathers, others look more ragged.
Many fanciers due how they race their birds, ie darkness force the birds into a false unnatural moult where the bird is forced to complete the moult very much quicker than is normal (adding stress)
I personally don't like seeing pigeons looking like they have been plucked, they should moult steady over a longer period of time rather than fast over a shorter time.
When fanciers ALL raced their YBs birds natural we all sent the birds whilst in moult, because they all moulted different you just picked out those that had the best covering. Missing flights didn't stop them flying from 200 miles. My own went to 368 miles whilst moulting. Still got them.

I've never been worried about the moult, and I've never ever bought a bag of so called 'moulting mix'. Mine are fed the same corn 365 days a year.

[Buster121]

I have some that look like vultures bald and ragged, mine also fed same mix all year

[king]

I have some that look like vultures bald and ragged, mine also fed same mix all year

I've seen same in other lofts, but I've never had a bird ever completely bald myself.

[Andy]

I have some that look like vultures bald and ragged, mine also fed same mix all year

I've seen same in other lofts, but I've never had a bird ever completely bald myself.

This was my first bird at the weekend. He has just 2 flights to go and quite sparse around the head. Raced natural.
All mine are starting to look a mess but I still got 6 from 6 when a lot of darkness youngsters were missing.

[Buster121]

Well done on things Andy not looking to bad really

[Murray]

I give the moult no thought, really. Every bird does it, be it a sparrow or an ostrich. Mine are fed my own home made mixture all year round. It does have a fair bit of oil seeds in it and I give them some fresh veggies and a fish oil capsule on the feed fairly regularly. They all have nice feathering.

The only flight I worry about is the 9th. I think when it's missing the 10th is flapping around without the support of the next flight. I've also seen the odd one reluctant fly after dropping the outside flight. Don't know why.