FINCHforum

Hello Every one
I started keeping gouldian's about 6 week ago, I got a pair and after 6-7 days found a hen dead on the floor
I got another one, it did not last more than a week either, found her on the floor of the cage all puffed up, looked like she was having breathing difficulty and with in 15 min's she died.. even though an hr ago she was fine.
i tried to give a another try and got another hen 3 days ago, but this one is very nervous as soon as she see me or any one else, she goes mental as if i was tying to catch her, even getting the cock nervous too, and she chirps alot , nearly a chirp every 10-15 sec, this does not seems normal right ?
now towards to cock ,
this guy like to look up , and flaps his wing, i have seen twirling videos it does not seems that, and wing flapping while still on the perch, feel like he is about to fly but stays on the perch
Now today i have found white powder like stuff on both of their heads, are these mites ?
I would really appreciate any help/advice

So sorry you are losing hens so soon after purchasing them. There are several things that may be the cause. First, did you purchase all the birds from the same breeder/seller? If so, then you have to wonder if there is an illness problem in his/her flock. Second, are you feeding the same basic seed mix and offering water in the same type container as the breeder/seller? I always offer water in a shallow bowl on the floor of the cage until I am sure they are drinking from the water tubes I use. Birds will die quickly from lack of water. The seed mix is not as critical, I've never had a problem putting new birds straight onto the mix I use, but just throwing that out there as something else to look at. Third, did these birds come from an aviary and you placed them in a cage? Aviary birds sometimes suffer stress when moved into small cages, and stress can cause illness. Hopefully, others will come up with some suggestions for you.

Welcome to the forum, though it is not under the best of circumstances. There's lots of good reading at www.finchinfo.com, where you will find many articles on general finch care and especially the Gouldian finch. If you put your general location in your profile, it makes it easier to answer locale-specific questions later on.

Ali

What is your location?

A friend of mine purchased birds for me (I'll never do that again) and both came from a large aviary. As soon as I place them in my 48" wide flight, the male kept flying up, looking up, like he was trying to find a way out...that was almost 9 months ago...he is still trying to "find a way out". I call him "Scruffy".... He is not "twirling" but he definitely has some sort of neurological issues. (can't fly well, doesn't land well on perches, etc.)

The female that came with Scruffy is partially bald and has only gotten worse. (The breeder said that other birds were picking on her).

Both birds eat well and act healthy in all respects...but there is something that is "just not right". Both came from the same breeder.

The way I look at it is that I'm happy to have them and can give them a better, healthier environment. I recently put Scruffy in my outdoor aviary so he could build up his flight skills and get stronger. He is flying better but he will never be like my other goulds. I'm hoping the female "Lu Lu" will feather up after her molt. She acts healthy and eats well, but you never know... I will not breed these birds.

Lesson learned...check out the seller, look at ALL of his birds and what type of environment they were raised in. Look at the parents if you can. As I mentioned, I did not pick out these birds...but maybe they were meant to be with me!? I monitor them closely and pray all goes well for them. They get the best...

If you purchased all these birds from the same breeder, you should contact him/her. If they are getting food and water, you should not have lost these birds so quickly. Best of luck and keep us updated.

Welcome to the forum and know you will find great information and great friends here! Best of luck!

Thank you all for writing in ...

@sally .. I have two water and two seed pots and they started drinking and eating seeds 2-3 hrs after they were transferred in the cage. and they were not in a big cage at the shop either, i have no idea if they were born in a big aviary !

@Dutch I Live in Ireland, the Birds are kept inside the house at 15-20c , I dnt think its a Temperature problem either

@Jen My male is exactly the same he looks up and have difficulty landing on perches, my time he would just fly back to the perch he flew from

The reason of the death told by the seller is Stress , since i have them in medium traffic area ,
The truth is i have zebra finch cage under gouldian cage, and they are breeding! no one in my house bother birds
i am seriously thinking of returning them and getting shaft tail hecks or java,,
which are not bothered by people around them as much as these birds. which i can stand close and enjoy them, the gouldian hen i have is extremely nervous as soon as she see some one near cage. she starts fly like mental .. does this get better with time ?

Thank you every one