Is it possible that my bird is experiencing the FRENCH MOLT?

Question

I noticed she lost all but one of her flight feathers on only one of her wings. The other wing is fine. The feathers that fell out looked perfectly normal. I didn't realize she couldn't fly until today when I let her out to fly about and she wasn't flying properly. I've heard there is no cure for it!

Will I have to separate her from her mate? Prevent her from breeding?

Any advice or knowledge on this would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Answer 1

French moult is a term that has been used to describe a slow, debilitating disease in budgies, characterized by the progressive development of abnormal feathers.

According to Branson Ritchie, DMV, PhD, it has been proposed that French moult may represent a non-fatal form of BFD (Budgerigar Fledgling Disease), however some budgies with classic French moult lesions have polyomavirus antibodies while others do not.  It appears that lesions attributable to French moult can be caused by either avian polyomavirus or psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD).

You don't say what species your bird is or what her age is.  I would certainly have her evaluated by an avian vet immediately.  Treatment, if it is a virus, would be "supportive care", since viruses aren't usually considered "curable".  But whether or not your bird has a chance of clearing the virus (if you are dealing with a virus) on its own would certainly depend on the species and age of the bird and on the nature of the virus itself.

Do get your bird into an avian vet ASAP

Colette

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