Pigeons generally begin to shed their feathers starting from the seventh month of the lunar calendar each year. This marks the beginning of their molt. By August, the shedding intensifies. By September, all the old feathers have fallen off, and new ones start to grow. By October, the feathers are fully regrown. This entire process corresponds to the popular saying, “Seven for shedding, eight for falling, nine for full, ten for beautiful.”
1. When Do Pigeons Molt?
In general, the timing of pigeon molt aligns with the saying “seven for shedding, eight for falling, nine for full, ten for beautiful.” “Seven for shedding” refers to the time beginning in the seventh month of the lunar calendar, when the feathers start to slowly fall off, marking the start of the molt. “Eight for falling” indicates that the feathers begin to fall off in the eighth month of the lunar calendar. “Nine for full” means that by the end of the ninth month, the feathers gradually begin to grow back. “Ten for beautiful” refers to the completion of the molt in the tenth month, when all the feathers are fully regrown. However, due to differences in location and individual variations, the timing of the molt may occur earlier or later.
2. Factors Affecting Molt
- Temperature: Changes in temperature can directly affect the speed of a pigeon’s molt. Fluctuating weather conditions, with sudden cold and heat, can slow down the molt process.
- Environment: Changes in the environment can also affect the rate of feather shedding. Sudden environmental changes or stresses may cause the molt to slow down or even stop.
- Light Exposure: The amount of light exposure also influences the speed of the molt. More light results in a faster molt, while less light slows down the process.
- Hormones: Hormonal changes also affect the speed of the molt. An increase in thyroid hormones can trigger immediate feather loss, while an increase in adrenal cortex hormones can halt the molt process.
