feather regrowth

Vixen · #1 (**permalink**) 29-04-2010, 12:24 PM

Hi all long time, no type.

I managed to catch a very badly mauled Black bird last night, I spoke to the wildlife centre I volenteer at and gave him some baytril last night, he is very strong and a good fighter, but he got alot of feathers missing and I wonder how long he gonna take for his feathers to grow back.

thanks

Suzie

posie · #2 (**permalink**) 29-04-2010, 12:37 PM

..Hi Susie Vixen, Welcome to WAB..

...I'm sure an 'expert' will be here soon, but in the meantime, my 'guess' is that the feathers will regrow at the time of the normal moult, when the other feathers replace. See what the others say....Posie..

Vixen · #3 (**permalink**) 29-04-2010, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by posie

..Hi Susie Vixen, Welcome to WAB..

...I'm sure an 'expert' will be here soon, but in the meantime, my 'guess' is that the feathers will regrow at the time of the normal moult, when the other feathers replace. See what the others say....Posie..

Thanks for the welcome, it been almost a year I think since I last posted.

thanks, if thats the case I ashume we are in for a wait.

off topic, what side of southamton are you?

valleyforge · #4 (**permalink**) 29-04-2010, 02:29 PM

Hi vixen,

Posie is absolutely correct in her assumption ... the feathers will only be replaced during the next moult.

Depending on at what stage in the moult cycle he lost his feathers, your blackbird may be without them, and so possibly incapacitated, for perhaps a few months.

There's quite a variety of patterns in bird moult, both in relation to the timing of the moult in the annual cycle and in the sequence in which feathers are replaced.

As a further complication, sometimes the natural moult cycle can be stalled or halted by a trauma, or even by weather conditions, so it's really quite difficult to predict accurately just when the moult might occur in any particular bird, in any particular part of the country.

A normal moult cycle for a blackbird though tends to be in the order of just over 2months to just under 3months.

Vixen · #5 (**permalink**) 29-04-2010, 11:40 PM

Ok that means he maybe here for some time then. Witch I don't mind. But is it fair on him. hmmm something to think about.

I gotta have his wing looked at, it doesn't feel right to me, though I no exspert feels like it has to much play in the wrist joint, if its brocken well desition made realy.

Wildlife rescue is never easy is it.