Help with pigeon feather loss

[shelly116]

Hi all... I'm hoping someone can give me some advice! We are having our first hard freeze in Oregon and my pigeon is losing neck feathers like crazy... if she wasn't in a cage, I would think something grabbed her (But she is secure). Her neck looks half naked at the moment, and she just looks like crap. She has been in the same area for 4 years now, we've gone through 3 winters already and never had a problem. She did lay eggs for the first time ever this summer.

We feed her pigeon mix, oyster shell (since laying) and I give her treats of flock raiser feed once in a while. She has a box for nesting, but prefers to sleep out on her perch. Have the perch side covered on one end to reduce wind. Is this normal molt and I just have never noticed??? What can I do to make sure she's as healthy as can be?

THANKS!

 

[Hokum Coco]

When my Pigeons are going through a heavy molt I switch to a high protein meat builder pellet that is fed to meat kings chickens as they are know in these parts (cornish cross in others).

 

[shelly116]

Thanks, Coco! I just wouldn't think they would go through molt this time of year as it's just getting COLD. Is this normal?

 

[Hokum Coco]

A lot of my pigeons are molting late as well this year for what ever reason. My birds usually molt in late August or September.

I have a wedding release this weekend and I am having a hard time selecting the eight birds I will need for the release.

Some of mine are way to shabby to put on display. I have a flock of 33 to choose from luckily. My birds in a perfect world should all be white according to their parents. However I have spots of colour on a few of my birds.

This blue bar is a feral that trapped in with the flock one day..