French Molt

[Marksman_69]

What is French Molt?
What are the main causes of this feather dificiency?
How much of the problem is hereditary?

Carl

[Scott]

It is a kind of disease that affects full growth of the feathers but not hereditary so birds can still be used for breeding.

I think there are a few theories on it detailed here (http://www.tuxford.dabsol.co.uk/BestV1/3_1.htm)


SPOTTING FRENCH MOULT
If you are very experienced with the breeding of budgerigars, as indeed are most champions with large studs, one is able to spot the onset of French Moult well in advance of the newcomers to the hobby. Such a person can see by the width of the developing flights etc. that they are shorter and thinner in the feather, instead of long and broad. You know instinctively that the bird is going to have some french Moult problems well before it leaves the nest.

If one turns the wings over and examines the "roots" of the feathers, especially the secondary flights, two factors become apparent. Firstly there isn't the usual 'down' density in that region and secondly, some of the feather shafts are showing signs of 'black deposits' (dried blood) inside them where they enter the skin. I would remind the reader that the birds appear perfectly normal so it is only obvious to the experienced eye.

Some years ago, because I was one of those from the 'nutritional' camp, I pondered on the stage I have just described. If allowed to continue, the French Moult started to manifest itself more discernably with the early stunted feathers and so on. This resulted in the usual "runner" that one couldn't cure in any sense of the word. I realised one of the reasons a 'cure' couldn't be affected after the post runner stage, was because the feather follicles were blocked with the remains of the original feather. This was often sealed over with skin growth, especially in the case of the feathers in primary flight regions. So, still thinking nutrition, I decided to effect the following practice which I still do to this day whenever it is needed.

100% RE-GROWTH AND NO TRACE OF FRENCH MOULT
As soon as one observes the early conditions I described at about the 4 week stage, I strip the affected youngster of all primary and secondary flights and tails - all of them! One does this by removing one feather gently at a time - not in handfuls! You then get your newly "created runner" out on to the floor of the breeding cage, so that it is picking around, and learning to eat much earlier than normal. It therefore becomes dependent on its own intake of food much earlier.

Now comes the important fact. The feathers that have been withdrawn are now replaced by 100% new growth that has no trace of French Moult whatever! This I would submit supports the nutritionalist group completely.

My only reservations are that George Smith's ideas are closely associated with the nest box droppings and the bacterial and fungal infections that may be ingested from that source. It might be that by my techniques, the affected (stripped) bird picks up grit from the cage floor or grit pot and this then aids very quickly the digestive processes which results in the formation of the new unaffected growth. Perhaps on the other hand there is a combination of both ideas. Should the nest boxes be cleaned out at say the 3 1/2 week stage of the chicks' life and be replaced by clean sawdust and some grit amongst it? I don't really know, but it's worth thinking about.

[Marksman_69]

Thanks Scott
Three and a half years ago i was plagued by this problem. I stopped breeding and sold the large majority of my stock. Fourteen months ago i re-started and during this period have only seen 3 birds with this condition. In fact only this morning I found a bird with the problem in one wing. I will follow your suggestion and see what is the result. Will keep you posted on this bird. As the problem is in one wing only, I will remove the primary and secondary feathers from that wing only and place the bird on the floor of the community cage. I have always given away these "runners" to customers who would accept them as pets, and have never passed on any to persons who had planned to breed the birds. I have never bred any either.
Thanks for your speedy and informative response.
Carl