checking "fat" Gouldians?
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 5:53 am
Hello everyone, and much thanks for the great advice here!
I've heard so much about fat Gouldians, and want to know if there is any other way of checking their fat deposits other than holding them and blowing gently on their feathers to see the fat under their translucent skin. The catching and holding seem to really stress the birds, although my Gouldians do eat from my hand, so maybe they would not be as stressed.
Also, are there photos or guidelines as to how much fat is too much? Maybe according to the size of the fat? For example, "1 cm diameter is not too fat, but anything over that is too fat" ? The female has a line down the midline of her chest with no feathers, which I was told was perfectly normal, so I would doubt that she has much fat on her chest.
Any advice here is welcomed!
I've heard so much about fat Gouldians, and want to know if there is any other way of checking their fat deposits other than holding them and blowing gently on their feathers to see the fat under their translucent skin. The catching and holding seem to really stress the birds, although my Gouldians do eat from my hand, so maybe they would not be as stressed.
Also, are there photos or guidelines as to how much fat is too much? Maybe according to the size of the fat? For example, "1 cm diameter is not too fat, but anything over that is too fat" ? The female has a line down the midline of her chest with no feathers, which I was told was perfectly normal, so I would doubt that she has much fat on her chest.
Any advice here is welcomed!