Best Way to Speed up the Moult

[AlexB]

I have heard about various methods of speeding up the moult including using Royal Jelly, does anyone have any further information. Also read somewhere about using male hamster to feed up to increase the speed of moulting. This is for a female Gos.

[Harris]

Hi, I started a thread regarding this a few days ago, didn't get too many replies.

http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=21493

[Falconry Equipment International]

not heard either of these, but have heard of clover honey , but most interested in safe ( ie NOT thyroid gland etc) answers to this connundrum

[SnakeHuts]

I used hamsters on a peresaker this year and believe she moulted well once on that diet.

As falconers emporium says the use of thyroid is questionable, but know accipiter3 used it on his gos's this year and believed it worked, my only concern was the use of thyroid in future breeding birds.

As Tintoro says others believe in clover honey has a booster.

[GaryPCO]

Moved to correct area think before posting please!!!

[Harris]

I used hamsters on a peresaker this year and believe she moulted well once on that diet.




hhhhmmmm I wonder if the kids would notice if Speedy and Hommer went missing? :rolleyes:

[AlexB]

Moved to correct area think before posting please!!!

The reason I posted it where I did was because the question was posed about a Gos. Sorry if that was technically incorrect.

[Falconry Equipment International]

Use clover honey incorrectly and you'll have a naked bird!

Tinto

Tinto can you poss expand please? many htanks

[Richie]

Dont do it. i done it a few years ago to get a male gos flying ASAP, it went horrible wrong, ended up getting another bird to fly inspead, i used light to trigger the moult.would'nt recogmend it.i wont be using it agian leave it to mother nature

[AlexB]

It was the thyroind point I had heard of, but not sure what if any problems it could cause. The reason I had asked the question was a conversation with my mentor today. I just wanted a bit more information on the subject.

[Natch]

best left alone,,,,,,,,,,,, with lots of top food and wait:supz:

[Harris]

What actually triggers the moult? is it the increasing amount of daylight hours? the increase in available food? or warmer weather? or a combination of all 3? Theoretically it should be possible to induce a moult at any time of year be matching the above criteria, but from the research I have done, nothing seems to be conclusive! could there be other factors involved?

[Harris]

Lights & temp control do work, but people expect result far to quick
You are dealing with an internal clock, not a wrist watch
Results through lights are seen in the following year, but you have to go through the motions of the first to set the time scale

Tinto


I agree with the body clock idea, but was wondering at what point does that clock start? ie. would an early season bird start to moult sooner than a late season one? (the following year) if you know what I mean.

[Falconry Equipment International]

If you give the wrong dose over the wrong time period you can re-moult a bird, and the end result will be a bird that is bald!

Also giving clover honey to a bird in the wrong condition can cause moult defects

Spreading a teaspoon over the food a few times will not induce moulting
Its co-incidental! when a bird drops feathers a week later

I can not expand further
For me to outline the doses & time period would possibly lead people to place blame on me for miss-moults


Tinto
Hmm then my suspicions are well founded then:roll: ? have always trioed to moult my falcons out naturally on reallly good quality food, however this year they have been so late , one hawk dropped and end primary about 3 weeks ago:-|

[HawkNorth]

Head for a warmer climate and long day light hours:rolleyes: :)

[GregMik]

Lights....it doesn't have to be full spectrum either. It just has to be bright enouph. Then feed woodchuck.


Greg

[OutFlying]

If flying a gos, it would normally moult out by late August.

Why do you need to fly it earlier than this ? baring in mind the deep cover present, hot temperatures and finally the poor sport presented by young quarry for an experience gos ?

If an early start is needed then why bother stopping for the moult to begin, as they don't in the wild - but then again if your looking for quality sport - start flying in October.

Jim.

[Jens]

Lights....it doesn't have to be full spectrum either. It just has to be bright enouph. Then feed woodchuck.


Greg

whats woodchuck?

[GregMik]

whats woodchuck?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodchuck

Greg

[Harris]

Well I've been using lights next to Bellas perch now for 2 weeks, and she has been on a top diet, yesterday I noticed that all the feathers on her legs and body are starting to grow back, and she's covered in small brown feathery stubble sticking out about 5mm, so it looks as though the combination of extended light, warmth and diet is working, I havent been able to check her primaries for new growth yet as I need 2 hands to do it, so will get someone to help tomorrow and let you know. :lol:

[Miguel]

I understand the use of thyroid as I already used it on rehab and very bad feather condition birds, but I never really got the clover honey thing...
What's the "scientific" explanation for why the honey works?

As said here before, the best way to molt birds is to let nature take it's way!