This topic discusses the annual or biennial event of the shedding of birds’ feathers. Birds’ plumage in their various environments plays an important role in their reproduction cycle as well as their survival. Normally the male birds are adorned with the more attractive and brighter colours as the breeding season begins. To some degree the adult male pigeon may have more of the iridescent coloured feathering round the neck (green to purple) appear a little rougher than in hens. This is difficult to pick up with albino or white pigeons. This assists the male in his attraction of females, when coupled to other antics or calls to the opposite sex. The increase in size or volume of particular coloured features or feathers in most species of male birds, is what attracts the females. The peacock is an excellent example. In contrast to pretty colours the racing pigeon depends on his plumage and wings for survival and performance. It is imperative that the healthy growth, of feathers, on the body and the wing of pigeons intended for the race-loft, is ensured. They need to be protected from various elements, hazards and parasites. The forward propulsion of the pigeon in flight requires that air be compressed under the wing of the pigeon to give the resultant forward force of the bird through the air. The greater volume of air that is "trapped" under each wing beat will make the pigeon faster and more economical in the expending of its energy. It is vital therefore that gaps, in the wing be minimised, as well as holes in the flights, be minimised. The surface area of the wing in relation to its body mass also becomes a contributing factor, which must be taken in to account. It, is important then, to ensure that the primaries and secondaries of the pigeon’s wing grow as long as they can without being stunted. Experienced pigeon fanciers often say, "Races are won in the off-season". They are referring to management of fat and the sound progression of the moult, during the moulting season. As has been stated before, the moult is regulated by two factors, which are directly, related. One, being the exposure to daylight and second, the regulatory effects of the pituitary hormones.

When pigeons are born they are usually born with modified hairs which we name yellow down or colloquially, "donsies". Within a few days the first baby feathers start pushing through and can be tipped with what remains of the yellow down. By 30 days the first primary can already be shed and the birds first adult feather starts to grow.

Depending how dark the inside of the lofts, are, moulting of neck and rump feathers will take place. The moult can also be speeded up, by increasing the oil seed content of the feed, usually in the form of a good quality sunflower seed. Experimentation has been recorded where polluted plumage, of pigeons have been replaced by injecting hormones into the birds. They replaced body feathering and primaries up to the No.8, quite successfully. Due to deficiencies, stress or disease some pigeons lack the ability to moult normally

What then is the normal moulting season of the racing pigeon in Southern Africa?

Firstly, let us look at the various seasons in which we divide our "racing pigeon calendar".

The Racing Season:

With our warm weather conditions it can extend from May to the following February.

In most organisations official racing starts in June/July and terminates by October/November and includes 20 approx. races. Some organisations run a yearling series from May to be followed by the official Open races. At the conclusion of the Open races a series of baby races can be undertaken from October to November or again in January to February. Some fanciers are very ruthless and send their birds irrespective of their moult. Damage to what could have been an excellent racer, is usually the resulting sob story. If the race distance is not excessive of 500km a bird can be successfully shipped to a race if it has dropped the flight on basketting night. Birds in excellent health have known to win in this stage of the moult. Do not attempt any training flight or race where the 10^th primary is growing and less than ¾ fully grown. Do not send birds to training or races when they are moulting over their ears. Hold back until they progress beyond this stage.

The natural breeding cycle of the pigeon should commence with the arrival of spring, (September) when the longer daylight hours become available. Nature’s way of providing more time for food and foraging and therefore quicker growth is possible for growing young. Organisations have traditionally issued rings from 1 June in contrast to more recent organisations that issue on 1 January. Depending on how you look at it, from a traditional point of view or some other, January bred birds are considered as "late-breds", i.e. birds bred and raised mid to late summer. Generally birds bred in the spring progress through the moult naturally and quickly, as they are not normally subjected to as much roadwork or exercise as the earlier rounds that fanciers want to use for the baby series. They are also the second round of a fancier’s matings. Experienced fanciers prefer these and a lot more is expected from progeny of the second round. Pigeons subject to daily exercise and roadwork tend to hold back on the moult. It is not rare to find that by December earlier bred birds may have only progressed to the 2^nd or 3^rd primary flight, in contrast to later bred rounds that could have progressed to the 6^th or 7^th primary flight. The earlier bred birds can also progress reasonably far in their body moult, depending on how dark their loft is. Certain fanciers darken their lofts for this express purpose.

When pigeons are allowed to go to nest and feed you will find that their primaries will moult more quickly than the unmated birds. If you are racing mated birds you will experience that certain birds will progress more quickly in the wing moult than others. This can be due to inherited factors or the amount of light where they are nesting.

When breeders are kept breeding till early autumn and then stopped to rest, some will literally fall apart in order to catch up. When older pigeons have a delay in their moult for whatever reason, they could shed flights or feathers, normally moulted in progressive stages, all at the same time. Birds returned to peak condition with favourable feeding and draught free lofts will behave the same way.

The Moult or Off–Season:

The natural reduction of daylight hours or as autumn approaches is the natural moulting period wherein the birds replace old feathers for new, to endure or survive the winter. This is the period from late January to early April. The normal order of the moult is firstly the neck feathers, the rump or back, wing, body, then finally the tail. Breeding and feeding birds, if not supplied with all the nutrients required for a healthy moult may delay to replace their feathers properly. Some feathers may be stunted or twisted, etc. The time of replacement, of the primaries to full length is initially quick and regresses as the 10^th and final primary is replaced. Certain birds hold on to the final two until peak health is experienced. Depending on the combination of most of the above relevant factors and nutritious feeding, prospective racers should have their 10^th primary ¾ fully grown when roadwork can be started at the beginning of May. Birds not progressing as desired should be treated and conditioned for racing differently, which may require a lot of patience before they will be ready for a race. Exercise is vitally important to these prospective racers, do not let them sit unless they do not want to fly. Some fanciers during the moulting months feed a special off-season mixture. This could contain good, quality barley, that is not bitter to human taste and sunflower seed. Both seeds have a high fibre content and prevent birds from accumulating too much fat even when extra feeding is undertaken. When pigeons receive adequate food they will always leave the barley. If hand fed, this will indicate the requirements of the birds. A little flax or linseed added to the mixture assists in keeping the plumage soft and silky. Warm regular baths is encouraged as this also assists in new feathers pushing through narrowed feather follicles in the skin, as a result of warm to hot weather conditions. Pigeons should be dipped or treated for internal and external parasites before and after the Big Moult to ensure their flights and plumage is intact. Some commercial products with lysine and other essential amino acids are excellent supplements. Limit the administration to once a week. Birds with good strong constitutions and stamina are the ones to build upon. Some dewormers are very severe on the feathers during the moult. It is strongly advised that deworming be done both prior and after the moult, to avoid unwanted fret marks in the plumage. Severe dosages can leave such bad fret marks or indentations on the rachis that it often breaks off at these spots.

In addition, to avoid similar effects on the pigeon’s plumage regular feeding is absolutely vital at any stage of feather growth to allow them to grow to their optimal size and quality. Certain tetracyclines, for medication purposes, are also not advised when squeakers are less than 25 –30 days old, as this can cause severe feather loss or deformed plumage. Relaxation and ample loft space for every pigeon is essential to encourage a good moult. A well-designed perch, which will prevent the soiling of other loft inmates’ plumage, is advised.