15. Molt
Molting is nature’s way of shedding feathers and furnishing new ones for the entire body. Thus, feathers lost or injured the preceding year are replenished, and a perfect coat is insured for the coming year. An imperfect molt indicates an unhealthy condition which will reduce the pigeon’s efficiency and result in the breeding of inferior offspring.
a. Time of molt. Every pigeon should molt once a year. Mated pigeons start molting approximately 1 week after the second set of eggs has been laid in the new season. Unmated old pigeons ordinarily begin molting in May or June. The time young birds molt depends primarily on the date of hatch. Those hatched during the early part of July begin with head and neck feathers very soon after leaving the nest, and later during the year partially molt all feathers. The process is completed the following summer. Various influences hasten or retard molting. For example, exceptionally warm weather may hasten it. Poor health retards and may prevent a complete molt. Early breeding ordinarily hastens the process, while late breeding tends to delay it.
Figure 5. Tail feathers of homing pigeon.
b. Order of molt. Feathers are shed in the following order (see [par. 16] and [fig. 1]):
(1) Primary flight No. 1 is shed first, and new feathers begin to grow in its place.
(2) As soon as new feathers are one-half to three-quarters grown, remaining primary flights are shed in numerical order.
(3) When flights Nos. 5 or 6 have been shed, molt spreads to neck and shoulders.
(4) By the time flights Nos. 6 or 7 have been shed, the tail-molt begins with feathers No. 2 ([fig. 8]), then continues in the following numerical order: 1, 3, 4, 6, and 5.
(5) When the last flights have been shed, the molt is practically complete, except for a few fine body feathers.
c. Care during molt. The molt is a great physical drain on pigeons; therefore, if practicable, hard flying and breeding activities should be temporarily abandoned during this period. Exercise flights should be only as long as is necessary for the pigeon’s health. When weather permits, the birds should be allowed to bathe regularly, because this will soften the skin and help feathers drop. The only sure method of correcting an unsatisfactory molt is to restore the pigeon to a healthy, vigorous physical condition. No attempt should be made to aid the molt by plucking the next feathers in order, as in all probability the new feathers will be inferior, or may not even appear. The substance which creates new feathers is lacking in the sockets for about 2 months after the molt is completed. During the molting period, it is especially necessary that birds be fed rich, oily, easily digested food such as grain (hemp, canary, flax or linseed) and greens. This food will keep weight up to normal and insure a good growth of feathers.