FINCHforum

Heya all, it's been awhile since I was here !!

I have 5 baby Goulds who are going through a pretty heavy moult right now. The strange thing they do is they sit with their heads back like they are staring at the roof, even the parents are doing it. Not all of the time but I have seen it a fair few times.

Should I be worried about anything? they are completely healthy and very friendly, just acting weird.

Huh. That's strange.

I can't say I've ever seen that in a gouldian or other finch.

Odd head positions bring to mind twirling, which can manifest during times of stress - like a moult.

But you'd see more symptoms, like twisting the head upside down and balance issues and so forth, then I'd be concerned.

Seems like an obvious question, but I'll ask it. LOL
Is there something up there that they're looking at? Like a ceiling fan or something?

If the looking up is the only symptom, then I wouldn't be worried. I'd just give them lots of good food, feather fast supplements and a heat lamp (Heat helps in times of stress. Good to have it there if they need it. Plus, they may have thin spots during the moulting process.)

I can't help you here, but just wanted to say hi. Longtime no see!!!!

Hi delray Yes it has been a long time....its been winter here so not a lot of bird watching going on. Spring is here and so are all the babies !!!

Mia.......With my goulds, they are outside in the aviary with mum and dad and numerous others. There is nothing for them to look at which is why i find it so strange. As for head twirling it is nothing like that, they are perfectly healthy and get a better diet than i do so i dont think its that. They are doing well considering they are going through a heavy moult, they are so friendly as well and starting to colour up nicely. Just like to stare at the roof for a bit here and there

Mands....can you post some pics of them

My birds are just about finished molting....the molt wasn't a heavy one...they looked pretty good through the entire molt. ...if it wasn't for the white pin heads you couldn't even tell a molt was happening

It's been hitting 40 celsius over here and they are sitting in the hot sun sun tanning....I don't know how they can handle the heat....maniacs

The zebs are hiding in the shade.....I think gouldians migrated to earth from the sun

dutch

Yep i will try my best, also what is strange is that more than one of them at a time can be doing it. The only thing is they MAY be a reflection of the water bowl on the roof, i will have to check that out but i highly doubt that the problem. If it is a problem at all.

Mands
Hi Mandy.
The first thing that came to mind (as mentioned by Mia) was the begining of twirling (God, I hope not).

But then I got to thinking of a Sociology class from many, many moons ago. We had all gone to a mall, and stood staring at a point in the ceiling for a period of time. Before you knew it, there was a whole crowd of people staring upwards right along with us. I wonder If maybe there had been something there that's long gone now, and one started staring and the others just mimicked. A case of monkey see, minkey do.

Anyway, good to hear from you again.

~Elana~

Heya lovezebs good to hear from you

My goulds are a bit of a puzzle as I dont know a lot about them. My normal pair had a clutch of 6, i lost one but the rest are great ......except for this new behaviour.

I just read this on Lady Gouldian about 'Star Gazing' which sounds like what they are doing. However, they have not moved so the space they are in hasnt changed.

Any more further help would be great.

Stargazing
I have heard over the years that Stargazing was a precursor to Twirling. I do not believe this to be the case. When a Gouldian Stargazes, it will repeatedly throw it's head up in the air as though looking at the ceiling. This behavior usually begins when a bird has been moved from a flight situation or a large cage, into a much smaller enclosure. I believe that it is a neurotic behavior because the bird feels too closely confined. I have found that if you place the bird back in it's original flight or cage, the behavior stops.

You said they are in an outside aviary; maybe there was a predator flying overhead, or a predator type thing on top of the aviary; or a nearby tree with branches waving in the wind overhead?

Mands
I honestly don't know what to think. Do they do this all the time? I mean, is that all they do all day long, or do they go about their daily routines normally?
I wonder if it's possible that it could be related to a possible dietery deficiency in some area? Is it possible they are lacking something, that doesn't even come to mind...

You do have other Gouldians, right? Do any of them exhibit the same behavior? I know that my guys, will occasionally sit that way under their warming light, but it's not something they do together as a group, nor do they do it all the time.

Goodluck with this bunch, Mandie. I hope all turnes out well.

~Elana~

OK so I spoke to a friend who is an expert Gouldian breeder. He told me that they are looking upwards to learn how to sing, they learn from the others and then they master it and wont do it anymore. So, as mum and dad are doing it as well, they are actually teaching their young how to sing. Nature is a wonderful thing isn't it.

I am one happy Gould mumma right now !! phew

Mands
Wow, thats a relief.
I know my kids listen very attentively when Dad is singing, but I have never noticed the behaviour that you described. Maybe it's some sort of a parent learned behaviour.

All the best of wishes with these feathered kids, Mandy. It would be nice to hear from you more often, girl.

~Elana~

Mands

A friend of mine purchased a pair of goulds for me from a "breeder". First time I ever did this since I like to see the birds I'm purchasing and check out their health, behavior, etc. The male was beautiful, but the female had missing feathers on her head. (I posted pics of her on one of my threads). He seemed like the healthy one, but he CONTINUALLY flew to the top of the cage, hanging upside down, or just staring off into the sky. After I brought their flight inside, he continued to do this, staring upwards, turn his head, staring up at the overhead light. That was about six months ago. At first I thought he was "wild caught" and couldn't get used to the cage! Now, six months later, he has stopped doing that behavior. He is still "different" from the others (flies to the side wall of the cage sometimes and is somewhat "shunned" from the others). They know what's wrong with him but won't tell me!?!?! He looks otherwise healthy, sings, eats well, etc. Just thought I'd share this info. Sometimes I think our birds have different personalities/backgrounds and show it in different ways.

As long as it is not the start of twirling which my friend asures me it is not. It makes sense that if the parents are doing it as well that it is some sort of learning behaviour going on.

Thanks all for the input.

I will try to get pics of all my babies i have at the moment.

Mandie.

Some of mine occasionally do this. And it's usually when I move the adults around. I don't think I've ever seen the juveniles do it. Doesn't seem to be health-related. More like the stress induced stargazing mentioned above.