Dozy Gouldian

skyjump100 · Post by **skyjump100** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:32 am

Hi There,
I've now had my Goulds for 4 weeks now and have noticed that the female is all perkt and flits around all over teh place and has investigated the nest box and carried bits of nesting material around however all the male does is eat and sleep all day. Both birds looks great with their colours really bright (as much as the female can anyway). They are eating a varied or eggfood, both real egg and dried, with grated carrot and broccoli in it (not sur ehow much vege they are eating tho) plus red and normal millet (not too much), grit, charcoal and egg shell. They have drinking water and a small flat bowl in the cage which is a double wooden breeding cage (43" x 12"). They have three different perches spread across the cage. I use a full spectrum light with them. As far as I know his droppings look the same as when I first got him plus no anatomical problems I can see. I did let him fly around the room but he didn't fly very far and was very easy to catch by hand. Is there anything I can do to perk the little guy up (not sure how old he is).
Thanks

Post by **finchmix22** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:24 am

I do not have gouldians, but finches are active birds and he should not be sleeping during the daytime. Is there light at night that may be keeping him awake? Does he seem alert or is he fluffed? Inactivity, fluffed feathers and sleeping during the day are usually signs of illness. You may need to give him some Thrive or other supplement depending on what may be wrong.

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:33 am

Do you notice anything unusal about his breathing? Is he eating more than the other bird, in his food dish more?

When you bought him, did he come from a breeder or a store? Housed indoors or outside? Was he housed with other birds?

What are your temps in the house during the day and night? Do you have a heat lamp on the cage? If not since he is acting off, it may help warm him and feel better. Attach a lamp with a 40 wtt bulb or 60 since your cage is large and put it next to or over a perch where he likes to sit.

Also go back into your profile and add your location so we cn better help you, certain products are only available in certain areas.

DanteD716 · Post by **DanteD716** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:27 pm

He should be flying, hopefully you find an answer!

skyjump100 · Post by **skyjump100** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:43 pm

Hello,
Thanks for the brilliant replies. He is defintely eating more then the female and I have caught him sleeping next to or in the seed dish. He came from a breeder and was kept in an outside shed which the breeder said was heated. I never saw the shed so not sure of the condition although she had two outdoor aviaries, one with zebras in it and the other with cockatiels etc They were both covered up for winter and the birds looked fine so I'm assuming the shed was ok too. I'm thinking the house may be a little on the cooler side so will defintely try warming him up.

Thanks again for the help, will go off to the birdy shop this weekend and get some supplies.
Will also update my profile.
Cheers

monotwine · Post by **monotwine** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:01 pm

Sounds like the move may have brought out something like coccidiosis.
Its very common. Did you do any treatments for quarantine when you got them? A basic one including dewormer, mites and coccidiosis treatment (I think you guys use baycox there for that) should do wonders to them both and can do no harm.
If you search "quarantine treatment" on the forum you will find the recommendations.

Hope you nail what is the problem and get your boy 100% soon.

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:22 pm

I agree with Monique...if you put your location perhaps we can suggest a few things/meds/where to buythem from to help him out.

skyjump100 · Post by **skyjump100** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:28 pm

To be honest I didnt do any quarantine procedures as, in my innocence, I didnt think I needed to as they were totally separate from my Senegal.
Will defintely get some 'tonics' this weekend and dose them up as I should have done. I'm learning all the time with these little fellas!!!

Post by **finchmix22** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:39 pm

Cindy and Monique are absolutely correct. Since he was housed in an aviary outdoors, he is prone to coccidiosis and worms. So, the Baycox treatment is the fist line of treatment. Others on the forum from the UK can tell you where you can buy the correct products. Meanwhile, put a lamp over a perch as Cindy recommended and keep an eye on him for changes.

skyjump100 · Post by **skyjump100** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 10:22 am

Hi All,

Here's a quick update on what is going on. In short, my wee fella is a wee shyster and has been fooling me all this time. lol
When I got up this morning I cleaned them out as usual. This time though I only put the fresh eggfood (with grated carrot and broccoli and eggshell) with a little bit of seed on top. I went out to get the heat lamp etc, came home and the weee lad was flying all over the cage, has been eating the eggfood and, even better, both birds have been popping into the nest box!!!! YAY!!!! Not saying Im out of the woods yet but he is definitely perkier and seemingly happier

Thanks for all the good advice (still need to do something about Coccidiosis just in case).

Thanks

Bluebonnet · Post by **Bluebonnet** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 10:44 am

That's good news! I had my pair for 3 weeks before they finally started eating egg food. I've found they like it best without anything added to it, except for a little pile of chopped eggshell on top. Good luck with their nesting!

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