Geese, like different birds, periodically exchange their worn-out feathers with a full set of contemporary plumage in a course of known as molting. Younger geese undergo two consecutive molts. After maturity, the hens renew their feathers yearly, whereas the drakes undergo two annual plumage modifications —the eclipse and nuptial molts. Most home duck breeds in the USA, which derive from the wild mallard, molt equally.
Juvenile Molts
By the tip of their first week of age, ducklings develop distinguishable little wings. By the tip of the second week, they’ve tail feathers. Physique feathers are available in in the course of the third week and fill out within the fourth week. By the tip of the fifth week a lot of the juvenile feathers are in. By 6 to eight weeks of age the little guys totally feather and appear to be miniature geese
Simply concerning the time they’ve all their feathers, they undergo a partial molt—that’s, a few of their feathers drop out sequentially and new feathers exchange them. Younger grownup plumage is usually full by the point they’re 4 to five months of age.
Throughout these two molts, the rising geese look just about like they are going to at full maturity. An exception is the Welsh Harlequin, which appears to be like fully completely different with every new set of plumage. The primary is the drabbest. The second consists of extra white feathers than the geese could have as adults.
Eclipse Molt
After these two early molts, geese expertise one full molt annually. This molt is the eclipse or fundamental molt. It usually happens in late summer time or early fall after the nesting season however earlier than chilly climate units in.
In the course of the eclipse molt, Mallard drakes, like their wild counterparts, tackle the camouflage sample of the females. This coloration sample lets the drakes extra simply cover whereas they’re susceptible to predators.
Not like chickens and most different birds, which lose their flight feathers one by one, in the course of the eclipse molt Mallards drop all 10 main wing feathers on the identical time. To allow them to’t fly for some three to 5 weeks whereas the feathers develop again.
Nuptial Molt
Simply earlier than breeding season, the drakes undergo a second, partial, molt that restores their extra colourful plumage. This molt is the nuptial molt.
For Mallards and different brightly coloured breeds through which women and men have distinctly completely different plumage patterns, the change between eclipse and nuptial molts might be fairly dramatic. Breeds through which women and men don’t differ in coloration, akin to Pekins and Cayugas, the distinction is barely noticeable.
In the course of the Molt
All of the geese in a single flock could not molt on the identical precise schedule or take the identical period of time to finish the molt. Nonetheless, geese that molt completely out of season could have skilled a hectic change of their setting, eating regimen, or state of well being that needs to be investigated.
In the course of the molt, geese scratch and preen greater than traditional. They might additionally grow to be uncharacteristically crabby. Females which might be laying will lower manufacturing, or cease laying altogether. That’s as a result of the vitality they usually use for producing eggs goes into producing feathers as an alternative.
Since feathers consist primarily of protein, molting geese will profit from a protein complement. Good sources of supplemental protein embody dried mealworms and crickets, and high-protein recreation fowl or turkey layer rations. Supplemental animal protein not solely helps geese by way of a molt, but in addition improves the plumage of these destined for exhibition.
And that’s right this moment’s information from the Cackle Coop.
Gail Damerow is the creator of An Absolute Newbie’s Information to Elevating Yard Geese : Breeds, Feeding, Housing and Care, Eggs and Meat.
