Female Gouldian Finch went bald !

[Nipper06]

One of my female Gouldian Finches went partly bald. What could be the cause of this? How can I correct this?

[debbie276]

Was she stressed? Breeding?

[lovezebs]

Nipper06

I'd be looking at her living conditions and diet very carefully.
Is there proper lighting?
What's her diet like?
Does she have access to an iodine block?

[Nipper06]

She's in a double flight cage with only 5 other Gouldians (her and her mate, another pair, and 2 leftover babies from 2014). She hasn't bred since 2014. She did raise 3 clutches then (I know, too many - but I didn't let them breed this year). I sold my 2 pairs (collective) 13 babies a few months ago in September. I only kept 2 babies because they were injured.

I have all sorts of supplements available in the cage: hi-cal grit, crushed eggshells, crushed cuttlebone, solid cuttlebone, charcoal, powdered kelp. They get fresh egg food at least once a week (hard-boiled egg plus Miracle Meal, vitamins, calcium, powdered kelp). Plus they get fresh greens, a few times a week. So I don't think it's the diet.

I used to add iodine to their water and I did slack off on this for several months. But I am now doing it again, as of last week. Will that help?

I have noticed someone is laying eggs in the cage, even though there are no nest boxes. But I imagine I should not try to breed them until her baldness is over?

Here is the cage she is in. I sold 13 babies (born in 2014) in September this year, so there only 6 birds in there now.

[debbie276]

Her diet sounds fine. I would stop adding the iodine in the water, too much is as bad as not enough. They will get the needed iodine from the egg and kelp.
She may have stressed from moving things around and removing birds from the cage, some stress more easily them others. I'm sure she will be fine just watch for other signs of trouble.

Good luck

[Malti]

Are the babies males? could they be trying to breed with her?

[Nipper06]

There is an orange-headed pair in the cage (that she is part of) and a red-headed pair (the red-headed male is new as of October). The 2 adult babies are a red-headed (blue-bodied) male from the red headed pair and an orange-headed female from the orange-headed pair. Since the babies are un-related, I guess they could be considered a 3rd pair. But both babies are handicapped from injuries so I doubt they are causing problems. But perhaps the new red-headed male is making problems?

I've read that baldness can also be related to mites but I treated the whole flock for air-sac mites in September, before I sold the babies.

[debbie276]

Gouldian hens aren't usually bothered by the males. If they aren't in breeding mode they could care less about any male with them.

[Spreckles]

Nipper06

Can't help with your question but I am admiring that cage. i have been looking at that one on Amazon it looks really large. It does have a center divider that can be removed right? What do you think do you love it?

Hope your hen gets better and it's nothing.

thanks
Karen

[Nipper06]

The cage does have an optional center divider. I do love the cage and the birds do too. They get a lot of flying in there - I have the perches mostly just at the far ends. If you get one, just remember how big it is, as it is less maneuverable than single flight cages.

Until I sold their babies last September, I had 2 pairs and a total of 15 babies in there, for almost a year. That's too many to keep in there permanently but the Gouldians were fun to watch as a giant flock and they all got along fine. I just had to remember they eat and drink a lot more when you have so many!

I might have bought mine via eBay.

[Spreckles]

thanks for the info. How is your bald bird doing?