Balding Gauldian

[Animalzoo]

Hi Gouldian experts. The little lady here is one of my new arrivals and is paired up with the beautiful orange headed boy. They are ringed with 2014 dates but new to me from a pet store. I put a nest box in their cage and they have been actively building a nest and spending time in it. They are very active and bubbly but the female has bald spots on her head as you can see.

Why?

[debbie276]

Could be many things. Stress, over breeding, being plucked, and/or poor nutrition to name a few.
Your hen does not look like she is in breeding mode. Her beak isn't black enough, she is either coming out of it or just starting to go into it. Seeing how she is the one balding I would guess she is coming out of breeding mode.
Just for your own knowledge in case you didn't know, your YH male is a SF Pastel

[Animalzoo]

debbie276

Thanks Debbie. You helped me identify his colourings before. He's lovely.

Right well I'm going to remove the nest box. I don't know the birds past and as they are older it's possible she has been bred. and needs a rest.

Next question.......can I put her in with my other gouldians (in the hospital cage) and introduce my RH head hen who is in condition to the SF pastel boy.

I'm not used to bonding finches, I'm too used to Zebras and Societies where you can swap partners easily. Am I right in thinking they have to accept the partner?

[bjknight93]

Poor girlie. One of my cockatiel pairs (both boys, non-breeding obviously) over-preen each other..I wonder if that could be what's going on here.

[debbie276]

Gouldians are more successful when they are able to pick their own mates. You can pick the mate for them, though there are times when the pair just refuse to bond together.
Quarentine is important for the protection of your flock, not sure you would want to put them with others till at least you treat for ASM's and worms.

[Animalzoo]

Whats ASM?
I've done worming already. I think I will put her in the main cage with the others and let her rest.

The others have chilled right out and don't fly away when I put baths or food dishes in. Plus I'm giving them so many food variants every day so lots of healthy goodies for them in there!

[debbie276]

ASM is air sac mites, treated with Scatt, S76 or the like

[Animalzoo]

I've moved them into the 'hospital cage' with the others along with a dose of Scatt on each. I then cleaned out their cage to find several eggs (3 in total I think) on the floor. So she might not be showing she's in breeding condition but she's certainly dropping the eggs. Either way I'm not going to breed her and she'll be enjoying a well earned rest. I've done the same with the other couple I have so it'll be interesting if they take a liking to another partner.

Also I gave them a very good inspection and this other couple have what look like calluses on the bottom of their feet. Is this something to worry about?

[debbie276]

The only concern I would have about the feet would be bumble foot. Basically the feet are scraped/cut and an infection begins. This can happen with rough perches and/or surfaces they stand on often.
I would be sure the feet are not red or inflamed and go from there.

[Animalzoo]

debbie276

Neither red nor inflamed, just dry and showing a flat spotted callus on each base. I looked at some others and they dont have it but I know these two have been kept together so must have been previous perches.

[lovezebs]

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=w ... G50NUnUiHg


https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=w ... E9Ye9wxEvQ

Here's some reading material Sue.

[Animalzoo]

Cheers Elana.
Always helpful. x