Mojo Molt in Eclectus Parrots

[jmfleish]

On another group I am on we have been talking about some of the hard molts that Eclectus can go through. A member from that forum posted one of Dean Moser's web sites that shows some pictures of a male going through a hard molt and I thought I would post it so that people who have never experienced this or are new to Ekkies can see what it looks like. We call it a "mojo" molt because it can be so heavy and can throw people for a loop if they've never experienced. Most of the feathers that seem to molt all at once are around the neck and large patches on the head area. This is a normal experience for many Eclectus and while it can be very disturbing, it's really not something to worry about!

Moulting Picts

 

[expressmailtome]

I have never seen a molt like that. It was very interesting to see the pictures.

Matt

 

[Noxxie91]

Wow, I've never seen/heard of that before! It would be pretty scary if you had an ekky going through that and didn't know what was happening

 

[Ming-Ming]

WOW! that's crazy! I would be TERRIFIED if i saw that happen!!! Interesting, wonder why they do that??

 

[jmfleish]

There were some other pictures as well that I will ask if I can share here that were even more dramatic. One of the moderators of the list and a breeder of Eclectus said that it can happen because they are lacking something needed in their diet or because they finally got something in their diet that they really needed. It seems that they have now termed the molting around the neck "Ring Around the Collar" which I thought was kind of cute. Mine do that almost every year!

 

[sodakat]

According to Carolyn Swicegood, the owner of the Land of Vos website, Lynn Oliver's male Eclectus, Mojo (a Vos I think) was discussed on TEC (the Eclectus Connection email list) when he experienced this major molt in the late 90s. I've tried to find pictures of Mojo himself going through this molt that was named after him, but the links seems to be broken.

LaFitte experienced the ring around the collar molt the year he and Rose raised 3 clutches of chicks about 4-6 months apart. Sully was molting when he came to me last year in June and is molting again now.

It can definitely last 6 months or more.

Kathy

 

[Zeb]

Agreed. My female Lady does that around her neck and beak....and it takes forever to go away...

 

[Grammy]

We've had our Paco for a little over two years and he's gone through it both years. We call it the January uglies and he does take months to fully molt and then fully refeather. I figure that he spends 6 months being beautiful and 6 months being, uh, aesthetically challenged. He's still a sweetie and my easiest bird.

http://forums.avianavenue.com/eclectus-alley/43561-pacos-mojo-molt.html

 

[Somebirdie]

Im half expecting my Dad's eclectus Hen too soon look like this! It'll be her second moult, and there are just feathers freaking everywhere lately (not plucked!).

 

[jmfleish]

I figure that he spends 6 months being beautiful and 6 months being, uh, aesthetically challenged.

Aesthetically challenged!

 

[stephwin]

Is there a certain time of year Ekkies molt? Slimer is looking a little rough around his neck and I'm wondering if it's just a minor mojo molt? He's been scratching the back of his head a little as well.

 

[sodakat]

Is there a certain time of year Ekkies molt? Slimer is looking a little rough around his neck and I'm wondering if it's just a minor mojo molt? He's been scratching the back of his head a little as well.

Mine usually begin molting when the daylight hours are getting noticeably longer. Many of them are molting now, but it's not real obvious on all of them.

 

[OldBirdLady1983]

Wasabi is going through his first molt and his molt looks quite normal and no bald patches. I wonder if this Mojo Molt happens later in life? Or maybe diet related?

 

[birdlady]

Tara seems to be molting...when I got her a month and a half ago she had a few little balding patches near her eyes...she has a few more now as well as on top of her head. I give her a shower daily which she really enjoys...oh, Tara is only two and a half.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

 

[OldBirdLady1983]

Hum well I don't know then why some would have it and some not? Wasabi gets baths daily also and he loves them but the humidity here is so high and it is 100 degrees outside here. I would love to know what causes this and only to some Eclectus it seems to happen and not other parrot species.

 

[jmfleish]

Hum well I don't know then why some would have it and some not? Wasabi gets baths daily also and he loves them but the humidity here is so high and it is 100 degrees outside here. I would love to know what causes this and only to some Eclectus it seems to happen and not other parrot species.

It sounds like it's most likely diet related, but I don't know for sure. I've never had a really, really hard molt with any of my guys but they do routinely get the ring around the collar and a few bald spots on their heads.

 

[Momto3boys]

Wow, Ive never seen anything like that! Is it common in the female Ekkies as well ÉÉ

 

[jmfleish]

Wow, Ive never seen anything like that! Is it common in the female Ekkies as well ÉÉ

Yes, it happens equally in the males and the females.

 

[sodakat]

Look at Google Images of wild birds molting. There are some crazy looking cardinals among others.