FINCHforum

New to finches! I have two gouldians, male and female. They sing/chirp, eat, drink, stretch their wings, preen, etc. I am unsure about any behavior that would indicate something is wrong. They both seem very healthy overall.
3 quick questions:
1. Sometimes they poof up their feathers, usually at the same time. I assume this is normal, especially with the everyday noise of the house?
2. Some of their feathers look out of place/unkempt sometimes. They are around 1 year old. I assume this is just general molting?
3. Sometimes I will see them open their mouth wide while perching. Ok?
Thanks! I have a gouldian finch book but it has very little on normal/healthy behaviors.

Welcome to the forum. They seem perfectly normal unless they stay puffed up for quite a while it's nothing to worry about. Sometimes they just puff up and shake as if to clean out dirt in their feathers.
Best of luck with them

If they looked poof more than a couple hours I would be worried and get them a heatlamp, but they may just be getting comfy and napping.

If their feahters look scraggly they may be moulting, or are too lazy to fix them, but they usually find it in their schedule to preen and look neat.

If their mouth is open, it could be a sign of stress. If you hear clicking, or wheezing when they have an open mouth, it could be a sing for air sac mites so see if you can hear it.

Birds are very good at hiding sickness, but this is what I suggest looking for:

loose or runny stools, droppings stuck to their vent. Puffed up, sitting on the floor of the cage for lenghty intervals of time, not being able to peach, and not eating or drinking properly.


Also, check out ladygouldianfinch.com and ladygouldian.com

I suggest oredering Scatt or S76 and worm-a-way. These two things should be kept, and treated for annualy to prevent and keep worms and mites away from your gouldians..

I also suggest you use them on your new pair to prevent them from spreading anything to the original pair.