Mount Airy Lofts
789 posts
Oct 31, 2008
1:13 AM
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Just wanted to throw it out there. How many on here would consider feather quality or moulting factor when stocking a certain bird? I have a young bird right now that is pushing 7 months old but have yet to shed in any adult feathers. The bird has been rolling nice 15-20 footers for about 3 months now. This bird's mother never completely moulted out until her 2nd season. The bird's father is the mom's grand father. Father bird was bred by a guy of mine and no info besides it was the best bird that year was given. I finally made the jump to adding it in to the old bird team. This after seeing the promising velocity it is showing.
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It's all about the friends we make :)
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brudahpete
47 posts
Oct 31, 2008
11:29 AM
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I wouldn't worry, if the bird isn't too stressed about it, I wouldn't either. In my experience, some late bloomers are the best in the long run, patience will pay off.
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Rule #1: Don't build your loft anywhere near your wife's clothesline....
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Scott
1229 posts
Oct 31, 2008
3:41 PM
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Thor, some of the best won't molt well, and most the the stiffs and strong cocks will look like breeders feather wise.
Reading an old artical by Pensom he made mention of the same, and how when looking for the good young birds out of others lofts to look for those that aren't molted out well,I found this to hold true in my on lofts also.
Scott
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Just my Opinion
Scott
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Mount Airy Lofts
790 posts
Oct 31, 2008
10:45 PM
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That is what I have found to hold true over here as well. Makes me wonder why some of the birds I see on here look so dam pretty compared to what I have flying :) The Mother is one of two birds that I personally seen blur out. She was one of the ugliest most missing feathers I had in the kit box back then. Sad to say, she passed away this year. I only have two hens left from her still flying.
Makes me wonder if delayed moulting is a genetic trait that can be passed on?
Thor
P.S. When I find some free time, I will dig up a before and after photo of the bird in questions mom. I will also post a current photo of the young bird that is showing promise.
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It's all about the friends we make :)
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Mount Airy Lofts
791 posts
Oct 31, 2008
10:51 PM
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Pete,
Actually it wasn't a late bloomer. I would rate it as a early to average developer. The thing with this bird is, the frequency is very good. Depth as solid as well. I'm just hoping that when it does finally get it's adult body and moult in some solid feathers - it'll up it's velocity to the next level.
Thor
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It's all about the friends we make :)
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kopetsa
2065 posts
Oct 31, 2008
11:37 PM
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Thor excellent looking hen in your ICQ! (profile) if it even is a hen.. lol I like her!
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Andrew C.
Last Edited by on Oct 31, 2008 11:38 PM
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Mount Airy Lofts
794 posts
Nov 04, 2008
4:54 PM
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Bird in question:
taken Nov. 2008
Born in July 2008 - poorest feathered bird in the lot. Very frequent with nice depth. Starting to heat it up in the velocity department. Just added her to my A-Team.
Thor
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It's all about the friends we make :)
Last Edited by on Nov 04, 2008 4:56 PM
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kopetsa
2104 posts
Nov 04, 2008
5:04 PM
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Not even close to done moulting yet Thor.. Just like my bird that was born on June 12th. not done yet..
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Andrew C.
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Mount Airy Lofts
795 posts
Nov 04, 2008
9:50 PM
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Andrew,
If you don't fly your birds and they haven't moulted out by 5 months old. Some thing is wrong with that bird. Any bird that get's all they can eat should go thru a normal moult.
The birds I am referring to are kit birds that are the top of their class in performance. Not prisoners.
I noticed the other day that this T-Check is a slow eater. It takes her like 3 tries just to get one grain. That with it being a hen, with her frequency, now with her velocity, all adds up to burning up the feed she has consumed at a super rate.
Take a closer look at her. She hasn't dropped but a few feathers if at all.
Thor
P.S. The birds in her lot - same age group have pretty much gone thru the first phase of the moulting process. By next Spring, these guys should look and feel like adults after the spring moult.
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It's all about the friends we make :)
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kopetsa
2110 posts
Nov 04, 2008
10:05 PM
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My bad Thor.. I understand.. :) True..
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Andrew C.
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Mount Airy Lofts
798 posts
Nov 04, 2008
10:15 PM
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Andrew,
I found that hens tend to eat more which usually means they use more energy. Not sure if it is true else where but seems to be over here.
Thor
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It's all about the friends we make :)
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katyroller
308 posts
Nov 05, 2008
7:20 AM
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Thor, I don't look at feather color but I do take into consideration feather quality. The question I would ask with your bird, is wether or not you think it would pass on the moult problem? The bird in question does not look bad in the photo. I would let it go through a full moult and see if future moults are what you consider normal for your family.
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Joe K
11 posts
Nov 05, 2008
8:10 PM
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Nice post!,, Mt. Airy Lofts It hit home for me , and made me think about a couple of my birds (both good and bad)! Thanks
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Tony Chavarria
Site Publisher
2885 posts
Nov 06, 2008
5:16 AM
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Hey Thor, if I could venture a shot; here is my two cents:
#1
You mention the bird is only 7 months old and and has yet to molt its initial feathering on into the adult feather, also you said the mother never completely molted until the second season but was the best this fellow produced...
AND the 7 month old birds father is its grandfather on its mothers side.
My thoughts are that this situation is less to do with the young birds' rolling ability than it is a genetic flaw in its ability to properly molt.
==
#2
I can also see how this bird could be mentally distressed by its rolling ability and so is contributing to it having difficulty going into a full proper molt.
Unless this particular bird has something exceptional (great velocity, proper rolling style, etc) that you need to put into the rest of your stock, I would not consider it for the stock loft.
My concern is that you could be accidentally developing a negative trait if you thought that a poorly molting bird is somehow a sign of a good roller to be...
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FLY ON! Tony Chavarria
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Mount Airy Lofts
799 posts
Nov 06, 2008
5:55 AM
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Tony,
That is what I was thinking as well. It seems to be from this line that I have the most trouble with - birds not moulting out until the second season. The thing is, this is the line where I see the most velocity and best style as well. So as you can see, I'm clueless as what to do with these suckers. The ones that barely moult from this particular blood are all ways the early developers that can smoke. You see my problem. It seems like a genetic fault, yet all I am doing is following the roll.
All I can do is keep good records and see where I will land later in the development of my family. Here is also some thing to consider. The main fellow where I acquired my birds also made mentions of his birds not moulting out right the first year. Hmmmm...
Any who, just thought I'd share this one with yal.
Thor
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It's all about the friends we make :)
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PROJECK
46 posts
Nov 06, 2008
6:14 AM
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hey there thor.. I have the same probelms with most of the plona I've got too.. (from ED in North Dakota).. all of which, didn't even moult until mid-oct.. not sure if its a trait that carries on or just from flying forcing them to moult later?? Cus all of my other family (birminghams, and my BILL's) seem to moult all at the same time around early aug.. and ending mid-oct. (even the youngs)..
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http://www.projeck-.webs.com/
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Mount Airy Lofts
807 posts
Nov 08, 2008
4:59 AM
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Here is the mother. Found a couple of photos. The last photo of her is how she looked after moulting out in the stock loft. I finally decided she was worth a try even tho she was just butt ugly - feather quality wise. Lucky for me I did as she has been a very good producer of quality styled rollers. The T-Check is the father to this bird in the post and grand father from the father's side to the Blue Bar Badge - band 119
Aw, how baby photos of our birds brings back memories. They grow up so quick. 119 was born in 2003 and hatched out in May.
Thor
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It's all about the friends we make :)
Last Edited by on Nov 08, 2008 4:59 AM
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