FINCHforum

Hi everyone. I am a new subscriber to the forum and a new parent to a Gouldian pair. I am extremely worried about my new female Gouldian purchase from the Atlanta bird show this weekend.

I had them in a small carrier for two days (the dealer said it would be fine) until I returned home and placed them in a very large cage I just purchased.

I noticed in the carrier cage that there is a little black feather completely plucked from which I believe is the female. I placed them both in the cage and the male was flying around etc.

The female was TRYING to fly but it also looked like her feather were a little wet, but I do not believe that this should prevent her from flying.

I am extremely upset and worried that she may have injured her wing. I have placed some food and water on the bottom of the cage.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks so much.

Welcome to the forum,if you fill in your profile then we will know where your from,makes it A lot easier answering questions.
Have you checked out the http://www.finchinfo.com/index.ph
She may have sprained it in the small cage ,is she still in that cage with another gouldian? The only thing I can suggest is put a lamp close to the cage to giver some extra heat just put the light so she can get close or away if she gets to hot ,mabey put a towel over the top of the cage to hold the heat it ,is she setting on the floor or is she on the perch

Hi B Camp,

Thanks so much for the prompt reply. I will try to fill in the rest of the post as soon as I can.

She is in the new cage with the male and sitting on the bottom of the cage near her food and water which I placed on the floor. I am hoping it is only a sprain and nothing serious.

I was extremely careful with the transfer and watched them very closely the entire time.

I will definitely take your advice and update the forum on any recent developments. Thanks so much!

The small cage is actually good for a hospital cage,so she don't have to try and fly to a perch .just put the food and water on the bottom so she can reach them maybe some millet too ,she would do better by herself for a few days

How is the baby Irene? The extra heat should help her. Gouldians get really stressed when moving them aroun.d Did you happen to buy any NV powder? It is really great to replace electrolytes and I would suggest that you contact Larraine and get some.

Keep us posted!!!

I agree with everyone here as well as pushing the light. Mine like to sit under it and get really warm then off to flitter around a bit. She will take her own time and heal and she will no doubt surprise you when she just flies all over the place.

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for all your advice and support regarding "Glitter" the non-flying Gouldian hen. Unfortunately, she is not flying as of YET but I am hoping within the next few weeks she will heal and be able to enjoy her new flight cage that "Kleido" her male counterpart is enjoying immensely!

Her diet is normal and her activity about the cage average. So, I think she will make it irregardless of her ability to fly or not. . .(which I am hoping she WILL be able to take flight in the coming weeks!)

She is enjoying the heat lamp as well!! I will keep everyone posted on her progress in the upcoming weeks! Thanks again!

I'm glad to hear she is holding her own and getting around to her food, water, heatlamp, etc. Keep us posted on her.

Hi Irene,

I sent you a pm..... so happy that the bird is doing better. I love the names you have given your birds.

Please keep us posted on her progress. I think she is going to be fine. I would love to see some pictures if you get a chance.

Hi Everyone!!

Chris (Finch_Fry) and I are so excited!! My female Gouldian "Glitter" who I posted about while ago who could not fly after purchasing her from the bird fair. . .still cannot fly. . .BUT she DID manage to lay 5-6 eggs (from what I can see. . .it is a dark tunnel like nest) AND a baby hatched today!!

I am ecstatic !! This is so exciting. However, it IS Glitter's and Kleidos first clutch so I do not know what to expect regarding survival and how well of parents they will become the first time around. The nest is of course on the floor since she cannot fly so this will be interesting!!

If anyone has ANY advice please let me know!!!

Thanks so much!! :D :lol: :D :wink: :)

Irene this is so exciting. I also am very curious as to how this goes. I hope everything works out.

Hopefully both parents will be good and when the babies fledge, they will just have to learn to come down for their food.

Please keep us all posted on this as we would all love to hear of their progress.

BTW, looking forward to seeing you in July.

Wow what a special bird. I just ran across this post and am amazed at her determination. I hope they do great...she seems to be a really special hen... hopefully she will pass her strength on to her offspring

Sound like a great hen you have there.Wish you the best with the eggs and babies.I'm have one question they built the nest themselves out in the open?

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for all the wonderful wishes!!

-dfcauley
I also am curious to see how things go!!. We will keep our fingers crossed!! Hope to see you all in Atlanta!

CondoAviary--
Yes, I definitely pray that she does pass her strength onto her offspring!! She is a trooper! I've even added a perch about 4 inches off the ground so she can get some "height" during the day. She hops onto her food perch and then onto the wooden perch and sits on there and preens herself. Then, she hops down!! It is quite the site!!!

Cartel-
Well I bought the gouldians a nest at first just to see what would happen. Nothing. . .
Then, my boyfriend who is becoming quite the finch expert (in my eyes!), mentioned that gouldians prefer to burrow into a dark tunnel and build their nest. I bought a kind of "hut" made of a thick wicker basket material at the local flea market. The roof hangs over the entrance of the "hut" covering about 1/3 of the way down. It is very dark in there and they love it! Little by little, the male Kleido, started building the nest. . .and before I knew it we had a clutch and now a baby!!! The nest is placed on the floor, so they babies (if all goes well and they survive) will have to 'fledge' on the bottom of the cage!!! Can't wait to see what happens!!

Congrats, I wish all the best.