38 THE PIGEON BOOK 



to the colonies are late-bred subjects that are more likely 

 to come into line with the colonial moult, which, in the 

 case of birds bred in the spring, starts at about the period 

 ours is ending. 



Birds do not actually die of moult, but the drain on 

 the system is so great that they will contract diseases 

 during the moult which at once cause a check, and this 

 check, with the illness combined, may result in death. 



As I have stated, a good moult is the best sign of 

 perfect health. 



Now let me deal with the moult as it naturally proceeds 

 in the bird. 



The first feather to be moulted in a natural way is the 

 shortest of the ten primary or flight feathers. 



The wing is composed of twenty-two feathers, of which 

 the ten outside, or long ones, are called primary flights, 

 and the twelve small ones secondary flights. I have 

 known birds with eleven primaries and eleven secondaries, 

 but these are not common. 



The commencement of the moult is governed by the 

 time of the year a bird was bred and the period at which 

 it is mated. 



Generally speaking, the moult will commence about 

 five and a half weeks after the hatching of the first nest 

 of young of the year, that is to say, when the hen is on 

 eggs for the second nest and the first youngster has been 

 taken away. 



An examination of the wing just before this period will 

 show that the flight feather is lifting. It will have the 

 appearance of being slightly longer than its natural 

 length, and eventually there is a gap in the wing from 

 which the feather is thrown. 



In the case of a strong, healthy bird the new feather 

 steadily takes its place, first in the shape of a small bulb 



