FINCHforum

I have a Gouldian hen that is looking rough. She is balding (splotchy) and a little feather loss all over. She otherwise seems fairly normal. She had back-to-back clutches with no break. I have always treated with S76. No other birds are sick and her mate looks incredible.
I just now pulled her and the male and put them alone in a cage without breeding materials. I could not pull her sooner due to feeding fledglings.

Do you think she is just warn out? What else would you do?

As always, thanks for the help and advice!

Chase, it sounds like my shaft tail female after being a devoted mom to 6 offspring. She was ragged looking, thin even though she ate and drank fine. I would rest her, after a bit and good foods and a break from mom duty she looked great. Dad meanwhile looked so fit and big.

I think your girl need a much deserved break with lots of room service!!!

I agree. Any supplements that are Best for curing this baldness?

I use Breeders Blend in eggfoods for her, along with veggies, pellets. The daily eggfoods and shaved mineral block and shaved cuttlebone mixed with oyster shell helped also. Anything nurishing that helps to build the feathers and body fat helped.

From what I've read, the feather loss is most likely due to an iodine deficiency. I have one out of my 20 Goudldians that's bald. They're in an aviary and they get iodine drops in the water daily.

Good luck,
Steve

From what I've read, the feather loss is most likely due to an iodine deficiency. I have one out of my 20 Goudldians that's bald. They're in an aviary and they get iodine drops in the water daily.

Iodine isn't always the reason for baldness, I personally think it's rarely the cause, and too much iodine is dangerous. If you give your birds eggs or brewers yeast you shouldn't have any problem with an iodine deficiency.
Here's a really good article about balding in gouldians:
http://ladygouldian.com/node/147

Sone birds are just prone to this. I believe sometimes it is hereditary, sometimes lack of iron etc....

I would give them kelp as a free choice. I have down the granules and also the powdered for them. I have a hen that would go bald EVERY time she had a clutch. I no longer let her breed.

I don't have baldness, but my mom Gould is surely scruffy looking, although dad looks like a million bucks. They are in a 5' flight now with their young 'uns & raised 1 baby before that. Laying/nesting/brooding/hatching seems to take a lot out of the mom.

Update: The Gouldians have been in a separate flight by themselves for just over a week now. They have no nest or nesting material and ample goodies: tons of egg food, oyster & egg shell, fresh greens and good food. I also have added some supplements to their water.
The hen that was really looking bad, which included a big bald spot on her head, has already started to fill out. Her new feathers are coming in fast and she looks so much better. She just needed to recharge I guess.