Gouldians: typical appearance/feathers?

peeps3 · Post by **peeps3** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:00 am

Could someone describe how a gouldian should look in the cage. They are definietely bigger than our blues and gold-breasteds and so I am aware of that. I am trying to determine if they are looking healthy, even though they both seem to have feathers that are not laying flat lately. Should feathers of all finches always rest flat against their sides? When is it natural that they are a bit disheveled?

Post by **Sally** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:33 am

When birds are healthy, their feathers will lay fairly flat and look sleek. When Gouldians molt, they look very disheveled, some will even get looking pretty ratty. When they are sick, they look like little puffballs.

peeps3 · Post by **peeps3** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:23 pm

Okay - here's a long post. I'm just not sure what to think! The two gouldians do not for the most part look puffy. They take turns looking more disheveled, one, then the other, one puffed some, then not, then the other puffed some, then not. The consistent thing is that they both have been perched near the heat lamps all morning. The male was as close as he could get to it just now, but then flew to another perch and is looking pretty healthy. Consistently, they both have been much less active for the past few days, wanting to be near the lamp (I just added the second lamp last night) and are tolerating some ridiculously peppy gold-breasted waxbills who fly by them constantly, along with the flights of the blues - both pairs are much more active and noisy. The gouldians sit there, trying to mind their own business and their feathers actually are blown up sometimes by the breeze of the others flying by. The gouldians are eating fine. They both enjoyed a lot of milletthis morning. But the female has a dirty vent today. The male has been cleaning himself and was attending to that area and it looks fine. If they have been moulting, I don't see pin feathers. They have been in and out of their nest lately. They had both slept in it last night. If you took time to read this long post - thanks!

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:24 pm

do they have eggs in the nest? It sounds to me as if they are NOT up to snuff and should both be removed to a quaranteen for abit.
Remember breeding is very stressful a move is very stressful and arent these relatively nEW birds to you??

they really didnt have time to recover from moving stress now are trying to do what comes natural,

I would hospital em get some guardian angel or something similar and let them rest no nests. no other birds etc

Good luck

peeps3 · Post by **peeps3** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:59 pm

There are no eggs in the nest. Male has his feathers back to normal now. Female makes a clucking sound, but acts normal otherwise. I will move them out and hopefully won't stress them out too much in the process. Thanks!

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:06 pm

Is it a clicking sound or clucking, if clicking when she is breathing could be a sign of air sack mites,maybe someone with more exp. will know

peeps3 · Post by **peeps3** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:41 pm

I think of it more as a clucking, but when I am home later tonight I'll listen again. Thanks!

Post by **Sally** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:38 am

As far as comparing the species for pep, my Gouldians are couch potatoes, the CBs are much more active, and the Goldbreasts are a blur of motion. If the Gouldians are sleeping in the nest, sounds like they are in breeding mode, but probably not up to it healthwise. Since they are staying under the heat lamp, sounds like they are not feeling well. I would separate them from the others, if possible, continue the heat, and watch them. Keep the nest out of the cage till they are doing better.

peeps3 · Post by **peeps3** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:14 am

Hi Sally. They slept in the nest last night and the female was up and looking well this morning. The male stayed in the nest and sort of slept late. I was worried and started to pick up the nest to look into it and he jumped right up and is now out. They seem ok, are eating and drinking, but still hanging out under the lamp. I have to get a smaller cage today so I can do this move. I will also order some Scatt, just in case I figure out they have air sac mites. But neither are gasping for air. Now that you say they are couch potatoes compared to the others, that makes more sense. They are just relatively so much less active than these nutty gold-breasteds and their blue friends. But they are so outgoing, still - love their curious personalities! I'll take all this advice and do something different today.

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:15 am

you want to use the scatt on them even if you dont think they have air sac mites, its a preventative.