Long-tailed shamas are not as easy to come by nor are they as easy to care for like the short-tailed specimens. Many things can go wrong with the tail feathers of a long-tailed specimen, sometimes during the molt which will result in an imperfect tail for the rest of the year. At other times when follicle injuries occured or are inflicted, the results may often be irrevisible, rendering a beautiful specimen to be permanently flawed.
The aesthetic quality of the entire tail of a long-tailed specimen rest mostly on one pair of tail feathers, the longest black pair. The length, the softness and the way this pair of feathers curves will, to a greater extent than any of the bird's other physical attributes, define its overall beauty. The flaws of the entire tail if there are any, will also mostly be found on or be seen through this pair of feathers. For these reasons, the owner of a long-tailed specimen should spare no effort to maximize their growth potential while minimizing the chances of any imperfection in their development and growth during each and every molt and to provide for the best possible care afterwards, to maintain the fullness of their vanes and the softness of their shafts until the next molt is due.
Pics of Nim (left) and Funkie. Both pics were taken soon after they had completed their 1st molts, showing satisfactory results in achieving the maximization of the growth of their long tail feathers. I would think that their flawless tail feathers upon completion of the molt were also the result of the efforts put into the proper care and feeding throughout the period of the molt.
With continuous efforts, the lengths of their long tail feathers had since increased with each subsequently molt.
nice site ... those shamas were beautiful with their very long tail. It is rare now to find that long tail kind.
ReplyDeleteIt is very true that the long tail shamas are very rarely seen in the wild these days. The only way to be able to still see long tail shamas in the future is to breed from those that are still around in captiviy.
ReplyDeleteJeffrey.
Hi Jeff,
DeleteVery beautiful bird indeed particularly the coloration of Funkie and not to mention its posture.
You emphasized the need to provide the best possible care and to maximise their feather growth during molt time. Could you also advise from your experience what are the Dos and Donts during molting time. Thanks
Hi,
ReplyDeleteDo's:
Ensure that there is sufficient protein in the diet. Supplement with some livefood if necessary but do include some froglets or fishes in addition to the insects.
Cover the cage with the cage cloth throughout the molt, except to allow for drying after baths.
Bath the bird daily if possible, otherwise, on alternate days.
A little sun in the morning will be good.
Supplement with a drop or two of multi-vitamins/minerals couple of times a week.
Ensure that the cage/perch and utensils are kept clean at all times. Change the paper daily. Vacuum the cage bottom at least once a week to get rid of the powdery residues from the molt.
Don'ts:
Do not chai the bird until about at least 2 months after the molt.
Do not stress the bird in anyway.
Hope the above helps.