Youngsters affected by French Moult drop their flight and tail feathers soon after leaving the nest. In many cases these feathers will regrow in the following 6-8 weeks, but some do not, leaving the bird with permanently missing flights or tail feathers.
In breeding budgerigars
for 50 plus years in my experience there has been a pattern when
FM appears.
On all occasions I recall the FM occurred soon
(3-4 months) after birds from multiple sources were mixed
together, or new birds were introduced to an established flock.
Research at Universities
in the
US
has determined the FM is a type of virus.
This virus is carried by all budgies and
varies (mutates) from aviary to aviary.
If a flock is kept isolated like many
established studs (no new birds constantly introduced) the birds
in the flock build up a resistance to their strain of the virus
and FM does not appear.
However when new birds are introduced it
triggers the FM virus to activate, and if the birds are put up
to breed FM may result.
The researchers say it takes 3-4 months after
introducing new birds for the virus variations to adjust
(mutate), so if you wait 3-4 months absolute minimum after
introducing new birds to pair up an outbreak is far less likely.
This may be why we see FM outbreaks in
beginners aviaries when they buy birds from many sources to get
started, and in aviaries where the breeder is a constant
outcrosser.
Other “stressers” appear to also trigger the
FM virus.. Poor nutrition, over crowding, over breeding, to name
a few.
When returning to the hobby in 2009 after a break of 9 years I obtained start-up stock from several breeders. In my impatience to produce chicks I set most pairs up soon after they arrived. First round went fine but the second round had a high percentage of moulters. I broke up all pairs and left them in flight cages for five months before setting up again. That was nearly two years ago, and no FM since.
Coincidence?? Not sure. But something worth considering.
Also check out info on Psittacine Beak
& Feather Disease
