FINCHforum

Hi all, I didn't see this answered anywhere but please let me know if I've missed anything.

I've been considering adding Gouldians to my home, and currently have four society finches. I was told by someone (in a group on Facebook, so quality of information is slightly suspect) that my societies can transfer a number of illnesses to Gouldians and recommended beginning an antibiotic therapy immediately upon bringing any Gouldians home. My societies are healthy and thriving, but I know many animals can be vectors for disease without actually being ill themselves.

Please bear in mind this is research before I decide to add any new birds to my home, and if the risks are too great, I simply won't. I have no intention of housing them together, and would properly quarantine any new birds (for both my resident birds' sake as well as the new birds), but as someone in veterinary medicine this seems contradictory to good antibiotic use to me.

So my questions are:
-Can anyone speak to a regimen like this as a quarantine standard?
-Are there particular illnesses that Gouldians may be predisposed to that could be transferred from a healthy society?
-Should I decide to bring Gouldians into my home, are there any specific blood tests or precautions (aside from antiparasitics) that I should take outside of a quarantine/veterinary exam?

Thank you!

Societies can carry a couple of diseases that do not bother them, but are not good for Gouldians. I keep both species, but not together.

See the following article, it is about fostering, but explains what you are asking about.

https://ladygouldian.com/Fostering-with-Society-Finches

wilkifam Great info, thank you! If I do end up getting Gouldians I'll bring my societies in for a full workup first.

Or simply keep them separated

wilkifam Oh yes, I'd never had any intention of housing them together - it'd be out of an abundance of caution!

Just don't let your Societies feed baby Gouldian chicks. As long as they're separate, they should be fine.

I’ve been to many breeders and saw society’s with their gouldians and I know someone who has bred since the 1970s and he said that he’s always raised the gouldians under the society’s then the gouldians that we’re raised by the society’s are able to raise there own

So I guess it’s fine

Soceities can be great foster parents but treat them before letting them foster as they can transfer a number of diseases to the chicks and kill them. The diseases won't bother their own chicks though.

CathyCraftz really I never knew that can u tell if ur society’s have that disease or not

Hello,
My gouldian breathing heavy.
I bought it 2,5 month ago. It was clicking and had not voice. I treated with Scatt 3 times, every 21 days. After first treatment he became healthy but after second treat he became again sick. Its tail bobbing, breathing heavy, often clicking and sleeping. Sometimes wake ups drinking water and eating. Please help me. I love my Gouldian boy.
P.s. I thought that maybe he has another viruses or bacteria? I need your advise. I am going to use Doxycycline during 10 days. Does it kills viruses and bacteria?
Thank you