Penguin Watch Talk

penguins

  • coolchelsea1 by coolchelsea1

    is the penguin losing its skin 😃

    Posted

  • coolchelsea1 by coolchelsea1

    I think it is. but im not shore

    Posted

  • gardenmaeve by gardenmaeve moderator

    Hi, @coolchelsea1. What a good question! The answer is that the penguin is NOT losing its skin, just its old feathers. Adult penguins moult once a year, after the chicks are nearly grown. Both adults and chicks have new, waterproof feathers pushing through then. This doesn't hurt them, but the penguins often seem to feel itchy.

    During the moult they can't go into the sea because they aren't waterproof. That means nobody gets to eat for a little while. They spend a lot of time preening, and we sometimes see clouds of old feathers blowing around. 😃

    After all the new feathers have emerged the penguins go into the sea to hunt and feed.

    Does that answer your question?

    Posted