by Robert Maaß
The molting of our homing pigeons is a completely natural process. As soon as the days become shorter again, the molting season begins. A prerequisite for a good feather change is that the pigeons are healthy. The healthier a pigeon is, the better the new feathers can develop. We all know that molting is an important period in pigeon racing. It is not for nothing that it is said: "During the molting season, the prices for the next season are made." There is certainly some truth to that, after all, the pigeons will compete in the races next season with the plumage they are developing now.
Pigeons molt throughout the year. We pigeon breeders like to see down feathers in the perch in the morning during the travel season. It is a sign of health and good form in our feathered favorites. The main molt takes place after the travel season in August and September and can last until December. The molt is only complete after the 10th primary feather has grown out. Especially illuminated young pigeons start the main molt later. Therefore, the pigeons need sufficient rest after the travel season so that the molt can proceed smoothly.
1. Rest
The molting period and thus the development of new plumage costs the pigeons a lot of energy. Therefore, it is important to give the pigeons some rest after the travel season. I recommend letting the racing pigeons breed once more after the season and raising a maximum of one young bird. This way, the pigeons that have been managed under the widowhood system all year come back into a normal rhythm. Subsequently, I separate the pigeons by gender again and give them free flight without compulsion. They can do as they please. This way, they have no stress and can save their energy for the demanding molt. It also does no harm to keep the pigeons completely in the loft or aviary during the molt. Here they are protected from raptor attacks and not exposed to additional stress.
2. Proper Nutrition
Nutrition is a very crucial point for a good molting process. To allow the new feathers to develop properly, the pigeons now need a high proportion of sulfur-containing amino acids such as methionine and cystine, which they find in our molting mixtures Mauser Fit and Mauser Vital. Especially soy should not be missing in the molting mixtures, as it contains a particularly high proportion of methionine and cystine.
Since the energy requirement is very high during the feather change period, mixtures with a proportion of fatty components should be offered to the pigeons. Hemp, but also other oil-containing seeds, are excellent for this. In particular, Zucht + Mauser Sonderklasse, with its particularly high hemp content of 10%, but also mixtures like Zucht + Mauser Klassik and Zucht + Mauser Premium are excellent for this.
Since the health of the pigeon, as mentioned at the beginning, is the basic prerequisite for a smooth molting process, the mixtures with the fully vitaminized Vital and Vollkraft Perle are great for supporting the pigeons' immune system.
A daily supply of minerals in the form of fresh Grit and Vital-Power-Stein additionally supports the positive molting process.
3. Bathing
During the molting period, my pigeons receive a bath at least twice a week. If you have the opportunity, you can offer your pigeons a bath more often; it greatly promotes a good molting process. As a bath additive, my pigeons receive bath salt from Röhnfried, which protects the pigeons against mites, feather lice, and other parasites. The result is silky soft plumage with elastic and stable feathers. Old skin particles, down, and scales are removed, and the skin becomes supple.
The molting period is an important period in pigeon racing. Therefore, as breeders, we should do everything we can to ensure that our feathered favorites get through the molt well and smoothly. Now the course is set for the coming season.
