Gouldian pair losing head feathers!

[Maureen]

I am a beginner with finches and still need to learn alot. I bought a pair of finches 3 weeks ago and they are starting to lose their head feathers! The cage is brand new and large enough, !,60high x1,63 long.
The food is the same they are use to and I find nothing in my books why this should happen.
They live indoors (maybe too warm)? and are eating and flying well, they are lively and the male is singing. They sit together and sleep next to each other.
I thought of mites but they aren't jumpy, other than losing feathers they seem fine!
Can anyone help me?

[poohbear]

Where in the world are you...fill out your profile.

Gouldians are prone to baldness, especially hens after breeding.A rest from breeding will usually solve the problem at the next moult.But an additive of iodine in a dried or liquid seaweed extract is an essential in a gouldians diet.Some birds will feather up again quickly...although I've had birds that have never regained full feather.

[akidsgal]

Some of my Gouldians when going through a very heavy molt lose all head feathers. Others do very little. I think it depends upon the bird.

[Sally]

As poohbear said, please fill in your profile, so it is easier to help you. From your cage dimensions, I'm assuming that is meters, so I would guess you are not in the U.S. It sounds like your birds are going into a molt, so the iodine is a must, plus I would give them some eggfood, either commercial or homemade, for extra protein.

[Maureen]

Have filled in my profile (sorry)!
They have egg food already,(which they don't seem to like much) thanks for the tip, I will get some iodine, I was told they are 6 months old so they are too young to have been breeding..
Yes, the cage size is meters, how long do Gouldians molt for and is there anything else I should watch out for?
Could it also be the stress of new surroundings affecting them?

[B CAMP]

Maureen
Welcome to the forum,have you checked out the finch information center there is a lot of good reading there
http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/ ... _finch.php

[poohbear]

Stress can affect all birds when it comes to the moult...keep them warm and well fed and they should pull through it ok.
The first moult for gouldians can be a very worrying time...although I have never had the mortality problems that other breeders have experienced.Whether through luck or judgement I don't know.

[Sally]

Keep trying with the eggfood, they may eventually try some of it. When I had a few Goudians, the parents fed eggfood to their babies, so when those babies were juveniles and on their own, they devoured eggfood--it's all in what they are used to. And Gouldians are notorious for being picky about new foods.

[Maureen]

Thank you for all the advice, it is reassuring to know my birds aren't the only fussy eaters.
They haven't grown any new feathers yet but they also don't seem to be losing any more so that's a start!
I take alot of pleasure watching them interact with each and will do my best to take care of their needs.

[Domenic]

Do you have any finches that like eggfood? If you put that finch with the gouldians for a few days there is a good chance they will learn from the new finch and start eating the eggfood.

[L in Ontario]

Hi Maureen and welcome! Lots of good info above already - just wanted to say HI! Do you have any pics of your finches to share? We live for pictures here!!

[maresan]

I have 2 pairs of Gouldians and one pair which is the ones with the black heads are going bald around their head. They seem healthy otherwise and I'm giving them iodine and powdered kelp. I started this about a week ago but haven't noticed any change in feather growth. I appreciate the forums and any other suggestions would be great. I do keep lights on around my large cage for heat and wondered if they should be on from morning to evening. The cage isn't in direct sunlight but its been dark and not much sun these days in Vt. so I think the lights help with heat.
Thanks.

[franny]

Yes, I think the lights should be on all day, if the room is dark, they may think it's bedtime, and not eat enough. I always have lights on a timer above my cage. 12-14 hours a day, maybe longer during breeding time.