Geese, like different birds, periodically change their worn-out feathers with a full set of recent plumage in a course of referred to 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 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 absolutely feather and appear to be miniature geese
Simply in regards to 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 change them. Younger grownup plumage is often 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 seems utterly totally different with every new set of plumage. The primary is the drabbest. The second consists of extra white feathers than the geese may have as adults.
Eclipse Molt
After these two early molts, geese expertise one full molt every year. 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.
Through the eclipse molt, Mallard drakes, like their wild counterparts, tackle the camouflage sample of the females. This colour sample lets the drakes extra simply cover whereas they’re weak to predators.
Not like chickens and most different birds, which lose their flight feathers separately, in the course of the eclipse molt Mallards drop all 10 major wing feathers on the similar 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 during which women and men have distinctly totally different plumage patterns, the change between eclipse and nuptial molts might be fairly dramatic. Breeds during which women and men don’t differ in colour, comparable to Pekins and Cayugas, the distinction is barely noticeable.
Through the Molt
All of the geese in a single flock could not molt on the identical actual schedule or take the identical period of time to finish the molt. Nevertheless, geese that molt fully out of season could have skilled a nerve-racking change of their surroundings, weight loss plan, or state of well being that must be investigated.
Through the molt, geese scratch and preen greater than standard. 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 power they usually use for producing eggs goes into producing feathers as a substitute.
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 means of a molt, but in addition improves the plumage of these destined for exhibition.
And that’s at the moment’s information from the Cackle Coop.
Gail Damerow is the writer of An Absolute Newbie’s Information to Elevating Yard Geese : Breeds, Feeding, Housing and Care, Eggs and Meat.
