Gouldian Finch wings

[jackiej33]

Hi, I am new to the site and would firstly like to say hello to everyone.
I am looking for advice on a pair of Gouldians I bought last week. The cock always has his wings hanging down and does not look slender and sleek like the hen. They are indoors in a heated room and have the correct diet. I emailed the seller and he told me the cock had always carried himself like this but I am not sure if this is correct or there is something wrong with it or he has just sold me an old bird, any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Sally]

It is not normal for Gouldians to have droopy wings, but if you can post a photo, it would help the Gouldian members on this forum to assist you. If you have problems posting a photo, go to the "New Members Start Here" section, where you will find instructions on how to post photos.

Welcome to the forum! There's lots of good reading at www.finchinfo.com, where you will find many articles on housing, diet, and especially the Gouldian finch. If you put your general location in your profile, it makes it easier to answer locale-specific questions.

[Sheather]

Sometimes a bird can hold its wing abnormally if it injured either of them earlier in life. I have a spice finch hen who came to me with her right wing eternally dropped downwards. She can fly just fine, but it does appear to have broken at some point and healed oddly.

[MiaCarter]

Welcome!

I was going to agree with Sheather. Often, a genetic flaw or an early injury can account for strange wing position.

Of course, droopy wings can also indicate illness or stress.
I'd offer a heat lamp and see if he takes to it. Perhaps he's fighting something that could have gotten a foothold due to the stress of a new home.

Have you observed any other symptoms?
How is he eating?
And his poops? How are they looking?

A photo would definitely be helpful!

[jackiej33]

Thanks for the replies, I will post a photo of him tomorrow.

[MiaCarter]

jackiej33 - Sounds like a plan to me! I'll keep an eye out for his photo!

A slightly OT question: I see you have a tortoise! What kind?
I'd love a tortoise someday!
My friend has an enormous Aldabra tortoise who's insanely huge and insanely old too. This creature is the coolest ever! He's waist high and maybe 3-4 feet from from head to the back of his shell.
He's an enormous live lawnmower who also eats some ridiculous amount of veggies each day. I've never seen anything like him!

[jackiej33]

Here is photograph of cock bird and also hen.

[finchandlovebird]

His feathers look pretty scruffy. Maybe he's just finishing a molt? A heat lamp would be a good thing to use right now for him.

[MiaCarter]

finchandlovebird took the words out of my mouth. He does look rather scruffy and his feathers aren't "tight" as is ideal.
So I would also guess that perhaps he's just starting a moult and feels a bit off?

I'd offer him lots of good nutrition and a heat lamp and see if that helps. I'll be curious to see he takes to the heat lamp.

It looks like it could be the result of weak muscles. There are lots of things that can cause weak muscles, ranging from injury and birth defects and beyond.
One cause is a deficiency in vitamin D3. Was this an indoor bird? If so, that's very likely an issue, so I'd see about supplementing him. A D3 deficiency can be so profound that it literally causes birds to fall off the perch they're so weak. Sagging wings are another telltale sign.

I'd also see about getting him into a flight cage and/or giving him some time outside of the cage to strengthen those wing muscles.
I'd also offer plenty of protein to help build up muscles, assuming that's an issue.

It's also possible he's just not a great specimen. If he seems okay otherwise and doesn't seem to improve at all with good nutrition, heat lamps, etc. then that may just be the case.

[debbie276]

He does not look happy at all. Hard to tell in the pictures but it looks like his feathers are thinning. Does he scratch a lot? Could he possibly have feather mites? Definitely not normal and a bit concerning that the breeder said he has always been this way.
Are his droppings normal? Any other symptoms of an illness?
I'm sure you are giving them a good nutritional diet which will do wonders if it is a nutritional thing. Be sure to include hard boiled eggs, shell and all.

[jackiej33]

Thanks for your advice. I will try your suggestions and let you know
If there is any improvement. I was going to ask the seller to swap him for another cock but I have grown quite attached to him so I think I will keep him and see how he goes.