Gouldian molting Ham is having a bad day, probiotics?

[Babs _Owner]

My fully molting Ham seems to be under the weather. Alert, but puffy. She is not eating her eggfood with sprinkled millet.

Other than the hundreds of small whispy feathers all over the floor around the cage I did find 5 LONG newly fallen feathers. These could have come from Ham or the other 3 juvies in the cage with her.

I have, of course turned on their heat lamp, as the humidity has shot up in the house (raining out side).

I have read people giving their birds probiotics when stressed from birdshows. So would it be okay to give to this gal is who obviously stressed in her molt?

They are fed millet, Lafebers eggfood, mashed egg and shells 3x time week, seed, swiss chard once or twice a week. Multivitamin drops 2x a week, calcium drops 3x a week. No other supplements are given.

Everyone's poop looks perfectly normal. I changed out the puppy pad and put in a new one just so I could do a poop check. Everyone else in the cage is fine.

Cage, food and water bowls are kept super clean. Fresh water delivered twice daily.

Probiotics or not?

[debbie276]

Actually humidity and baths are good for them especially during the molt. Not so sure she needs extra heat as much as the humidity.
I would watch for other signs of stress and/or illness.
I've never used a probiotic so can't say it is needed.
good luck

[lovezebs]

Babs

Oh my lord, not Hammy !

I've never given probiotics so far to anyone.

When my molting Juvies get a little bleh, I just up the heat ( up to 23 or 24 Celsius )

Please let me know how she's doing.

[Babs _Owner]

debbie276 lovezebs

A little while ago I whistled to her and she got all excited, tramped around in the egg food, ate a one piece.......then she jumped in the water dish, flicked water onto my glasses for kicks......

Then jumped back to the perch for the heat. I hope I dont lose my tame girl.

The other signs of stress, is she is drinking much more, and kinda feigning eating. We all know thats showing she definitely isnt feeling well.

Yes, Elana. Im tellin ya. If I lose this gal I will cry a river. She is going through such a rapid molt.

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs debbie276

Since I am used to a society molt and not a gouldian, I need a walk-through. Ham's life may depend on it right now.

She is still fluffed (underheat), eating a bit of millet, drinking too much water. Half her head is molted to black. And these are the feathers I am now finding all over the cage.

Please tell me what stage she is in and what best I can do for her.

[Spreckles]

Babs
Saying a prayer really. Maybe FlDoc will weigh in with his 32 years ofexperience.
Probiotics improve immunity. B vitamins relive stress. I was reading today that Gouldians juvie molt is very stressful for them. It didn't say how to relive them. It seems a benign treatment to offer vitamins and probiotics. Multiple supportive measures can only help. Right? What do you think?
Karen

[Babs _Owner]

Spreckles

This strain on her body (she's in a compressed molt) is what Im trying to focus on. The remedy-help when you research it, seems so damn vague.

They speak of the molt, why it happens, but never what to do if the bird is in distress and you have provided all the nutrients to sustain the molt.

I'm just like you, I'm cool if I know WHAT to do. She's gotten every nutrient I can think of that I've researched for molting.

It was insisted that gouldians molt their heads last, yet she molted her head FIRST. Like her body is molting backwards. Probiotics, to me, just seems like adding pedialyte to the newborn hatchings. Thats the most information I get on it. The rest is just the opposite. "Dont use it, they will DIE!! etc etc" Like finch medicine ping-pong ball.

I'm staring at those probiotic tablets and just holding back my fingers from using them watching her all fluffed up on the top perch in the heat lamp twitching and shaking.

And with work looming tomorrow, as you all know.....I am just watching her in the soft blue light heat lamp. And I will watch over her until I fall asleep at my desk.

[Spreckles]

Babs
Your right the article I read had no suggestions either. CRAZY! I am going go King Jesus to touch your baby and heal her little body NOW! Because He loves.

Karen

[lovezebs]

Babs

Oh hon... I wish her and you the best.
When Pokey was feeling so bad that I thought she'd drop dead at any minute, I tucked her into the top of my shirt, and offered what I had, warmth.

[lovezebs]

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=w ... yNeUFLQTmw

@Babs


Maybe try to contact Laraine, she might be able to offer some advice.

[debbie276]

A compressed molt is usually triggered if they feel that their food supply is dwindling, they want to get the molt done sooner.
Not sure if you've read this article on Laraine's site yet.
https://ladygouldian.com/content/why-my-gouldian-bald

An article from Kristen
https://ladygouldian.com/content/feathe ... ten-reeves

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs Spreckles debbie276

Well I got up this morning before lights on and Ham is still alive (thankfully). I mashed up more boiled egg with millet and made sure that was the only food presented to them first thing.

I am happy to say Ham was a porker and dove into it. She really ate it, not just picking and faking it, like when birds are sick. This is a good sign I think

She is still puffy, but last night I added an extra heat lamp. And she certainly seems to have more life to her this morning.

I will be keeping a close eye on her all day. She's still not quite herself yet for sure.

Debbie, I've read that article. Its a very good article. However, her siblings in the cage are not going through a compressed molt and they all get the same food. Perhaps its about the bird's perception of food abundance. Perplexing.

[debbie276]

Her body may not process the food the same? There may be added stress for her? You have to look at the dynamic of the environment and each bird as an individual.
Glad she is acting more normal. It's a shame the molt hits some harder then others.
keep us posted

[Babs _Owner]

debbie276

Fortunantly today is Friday. If she makes it past my work day, tonight and tomorrow I will sit in the birdroom and meditate on the dynamics of the cages and how she is reacting to the other birds in the room.

One thing I do have to mention. Whenever I am in the room, tending other cages she is normally plastered against the wall of her cage as if to say "I see you over there and I want OUT!" She doesnt relax until I give her some "handtime"

You may have touched on something. She may have imprinted so much, that not being with me or Bill is stressing her out. We may have to consider the cage for her in my office sooner, than later.

[debbie276]

Good observation, glad it's the weekend you will have time to study the interactions going on.
best of luck