Your bird's primary nutritional need during molting is protein. When your bird sheds her old feathers and grows new ones, her need for protein increases. Proteins are the building blocks of body tissue and will be in great demand as your bird grows new plumage. Added protein also helps boost energy - molt adds a great deal of stress to your bird's normal body functioning, and she needs extra energy to counterbalance the strain.

Two ways you can ensure your bird is getting her much-needed protein during molting are to switch to a commercial molting bird food mix, or add high-protein foods to her diet. Foods rich in protein, which you can use to supplement (not replace) your bird's regular diet, include:

• Boiled egg yolk mixed with her fresh foods
• Insects such as mealworms and maggots
• Spinach or other greens

Your bird's normal daily molting diet will vary depending on her size, but a typical diet for a medium-sized bird might be something like this:

• Available all day: seeds, pellets or molting mix
• 1st meal: one hard-boiled egg yolk (broken into bite-sized pieces), a chopped spinach leaf and a chopped apple quarter
• 2nd meal: a handful of sprouts, two or three chopped grapes and a small diced carrot
• Mid-day treat/snack: mealworms or a piece of cooked chicken in small "snack" portions

A healthy bird, cared for with proper nutrition all year round, will be able to endure the stresses associated with molting. It is imperative that you constantly provide your bird with all the essential nutrients she needs.