Are young budgies meant to lose this many feathers?

**Chellez** · 09-13-2011, 03:30 AM

I own a 5 month old budgie who is always extremely happy and active and never stops talking. He seems quite healthy to me but over the last few weeks when sweeping up near his cage or cleaning his cage out, Ive noticed a lot and I mean A LOT of blue feathers. I have even spotted quite a few long wing and tail feathers over the weeks. This many feathers I've seen would surely be noticable on him but whenever I look at him, he looks like he hasnt lost a single one. Ive owned budgies in the past and they have never plucked/lost this many feathers from themselves. Is this normal for baby budgies or could it be that maybe hes bored because he definitely doesnt appear sick or unhappy altho he does preen himself an awful lot.

**Marrie** · 09-13-2011, 03:55 AM

Sounds like he's having his first molt, are you noticing feather sheaths? (little plastic looking covering over new feathers) or a lot of the little downy type feathers on the bottom of the cage? Make sure he's getting plenty of calcium so he can regrow the feathers without too much stress on his body.

**Chellez** · 09-13-2011, 04:23 AM

Thanks for that and Im not sure as I swept up and threw out the last lot of feathers but I will definitely check next time. How do you give budgies calcium? Is there something you can put in their water?

**Marrie** · 09-13-2011, 04:47 AM

Cuttlebone available, broccoli, kale, etc for fresh foods. There is liquid calcium, but you don't need to do that for a molt ... it is possible to overload them on calcium and cause issues, so it's best to just add it through their diet.