11. Females have a bright rufous nape collar which is moulted during the non-breeding season. 12. Maclean observed that the birds moulted into a paler, less bold non-breading plumage. 13. These are present after around 16 weeks of age when the birds have moulted into adult plumage. 14. In some countries, flocks of commercial layer hens are force-moulted to reinvigorate egg-laying. 15. The newly moulted adult female becomes increasingly active for the first 6 7 days and seeks a host. 16. The cornea is composed of either one or two cuticular layers depending on how recently the animal has moulted . 17. Breeding takes place in late summer after the nymph has moulted for the last time and become an adult. 18. Feathers are moulted gradually between July and November with the main flight feathers taking 90 100 days to moult and regrow. 19. In addition to age, the gender seems to affect cannibalistic behaviour as males cannibalised newly moulted females less than males. 20. Those of adults will be of various lengths and levels of wear, since each is moulted at a different time.
