FINCHforum

I picked up 6 pair of gouldians a few days ago, and have them in a large
Indoor fligh, when i got home from w ork yday i noticed one of the cocks
Behaving funny, he can fly perfect, he can land, so feet a wings fine.
But it seems his balance is way off, like he is going to roll off the perch to one side.
Ive caught him up and left him in a single breeder, could this be a mineral defiance or air sac mite, any ideas would be a great help for he is a stunning yellow purple chest cock. Cheers

Does not sound like ASM. How is he holding his head? If you can look on the internet for videos of twirling and stargazing. Is that what he's doing?
For now I would give him a well balanced diet with hard boiled eggs added for vitamins and minerals, see if it improves.
please keep us posted and good luck

No twirls or stargazing, he was singing away day before so my guess is he got a knock in the flight, have him caged up a am spoiling him, thanks for the reply

Gouldiandave

I would keep a close eye on him, and also the rest of the new kids.
Have you added a nice warm lamp over one corner of the breeder cage he's In? This is always a good idea, whenever a bird appears to be feeling under the weather. I have found that they seek out light and warmth, and it seems to be both helpful and comforting to them.

Please keep us updated.

Best of luck.

Gouldiandave - Congrats on your new birds!

How is your boy doing this morning?

A severe Vitamin D3 deficiency can cause profound muscle weakness. It could account for his symptoms perhaps? I've seen one or two cases where the bird literally couldn't perch. But it wasn't a dizzy-ness; it was a weakness.

Another thought is an ear infection. It's possible the stress of the move to a new home took a toll on his immune system leaving him prone to illness. That happens quite often.

A knock on the head is a possibility too. Perhaps flying about in a frenzy due to a spook from all of the excitement.

I would give him a heat lamp, lots of good food and I'd observe to see how he does today.

Do you happen to have a broad-spectrum antibiotic on-hand? If not, I would order some just so you have it on-hand in the event you need it. Antibiotics are one of those things that you will inevitably need (and when you need it, you can't wait for it to arrive in the mail.)

Keep us posted!

Will get some batyrl the weekend, i did look up gouldian. Twirli ng on utube and am thinking maybe Twirlin.

Gouldiandave - it's definitely possible.

An inner ear infection would cause the same type of dizziness / loss of equilibrium. (In fact, it's likely accountable for many twirling cases. "Twirling" is a catch-all phrase that encompasses a few potential conditions/causes).

Not sure of your set up nor the one it came from but does it seem to keep looking up at the cage top?
Sometimes when a bird goes into a smaller cage from what they are used to they keep looking up like it's closing down on them. Most times it will correct itself but there have been times where they just need to be put in a larger cage. Most prominent when they go from an aviary to a flight cage.
Just a thought

Its a strang. One, he dont have the noddles(tTwirling)
But when his right wing comes out to fly is wer the off balance comes from like he slightly paralised on the right side, hes eating a dtinking fine a not puffed up
Will just keep him in single breeder, my guess is he got a bang in the flight

Well i am delighted to report my pb yellow back male is on the mend
His balance is retu rning so guess he got a bang in the flight a is healing

Wonderful news!!

Thanks debs

Now hes back in full song, gave him a good dose of vit 3a calcuim for a few days, over the moon

He may have just gotten a knock in fright with new environment / transport. Glad he's ok. You did all the right things to make him comfortable.
There is a critical time of noticing something is off and actually intervening to assist that can save a birds life. The little ones can turn their toes for even small things like a knock with added stress of moving etc. You did great.

monotwine wrote: He may have just gotten a knock in fright with new environment / transport. Glad he's ok. You did all the right things to make him comfortable.
There is a critical time of noticing something is off and actually intervening to assist that can save a birds life. The little ones can turn their toes for even small things like a knock with added stress of moving etc. You did great.

thanks monotwine