Health Questions

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 3:42 am

Ok all you gouldian experts....

My male gould always grows his upper part of his beak longer than the lower part, I trim it down about every 3 weeks. I have never seen him take advantage of the cuttlebone... is there any way to prevent the beak overgrowth? My finches are all on a great diet... so I guess I may just have to keep trimming?

Also, what does it mean when a finch is just sitting there with it's mouth open? I have one finch (my indian silverbill) that does this all the time!

TammyS · Post by **TammyS** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:46 am

Hi Emily,

Unfortunately, this most likely is a genetic defect and you will have to continue to trim the birds beak. I've seen it once or twice and even with cuttlebone in the cage, you will have to continue to trim it. I would advise not breeding this bird.

Is your indian silverbill exhibiting any other symptoms? Is he doing it all the time or only when you are near the cage? Some birds will display the open beak breathing when stressed. I have a couple that do it when I clean the flight or try to catch a bird. They will stop after they settle back down.

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 3:19 pm

Well I'm not planning on breeding my gouldian, as he's the only gouldian I have, but it is a pain to trim his beak, he always bites me when I do! He is a beautiful addition to my mixed aviary though... that's why I keep him.

My silverbill does it a lot, sometimes even when I'm sitting pretty far back, not moving at all... he'll sit in the corner with his mouth open. He isn't really displaying other symptoms... I just worry about him, he's really cute!

Also Tammy, I placed an order (I think) with justbirdstuff.... is there any way you can check that? I think I need to send you a check?

TammyS · Post by **TammyS** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:52 pm

Hi Emily,

Isn't it funny when finches bite...sometimes I can't believe how hard some of them can grab onto my finger and not let go!

I would just keep an eye on the Silverbill at this point. It could be nothing...and it could be something. Hard to say especially since there aren't any other noticeable symptoms.

Yes, I do have a pending order for you

. I sent you an email off the forum.

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:03 am

I took some pictures of the silverbill... this is the way he just keeps his mouth open.... it is weird to me.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE ONE SIDE OF THE AVIARY... THE SILVERBILL IS IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN THE GOULDIAN AND BABY ZEBRA. HE ONCE AGAIN HAS HIS MOUTH OPEN IN THIS PICTURE! YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO MAKE IT LARGER...

rottielover · Post by **rottielover** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 2:38 pm

Emily,

Not sure about the silverbill, sorry.

On your Gouldian, how much does the beak overgrow? Is it continual (where if you didn't trim it he wouldn't be able to eat) or does it grow a little bit past the lower beak and stop?

I ask for two reasons. First is that a book I have specifically on Gouldian's addresses the overgrown beak issue. The author states that there are some genetic lines where the upper beak will grow to 1 to 2 mm longer than the lower beak, but will then "stop" (ie wear down from there). The author considers this normal for those birds. There are some birds where the beak will continue to grow beyond 1 or 2 mm and in these cases it's recommened to trim the beak and not breed the bird.

2nd, I myself have 1 female who's upper beak is 1 mm longer than her lower beak, in fact, if your not very observant you'd probably miss it. I've owned this bird for about 4 months now and have never had to trim her beak. The rest of my birds all have "perfect" beaks where the upper and lower meet exactly.

Just wanted to toss that out here for thought. What does eveyone think about the author's opinion?

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:02 pm

Well... my gouldian is in that picture I posted.... I can look at see if I can see the overgrown part...

I don't know the exact measurement that the upper part grows over the lower part. It isn't really bad though, he can always still eat. I just trim it b/c it annoys me more than it probably annoys him.

rottielover · Post by **rottielover** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:12 pm

I downloaded your picture and enlarged it. The beak doesn't look that bad to me, did you recently trim it?

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 4:45 am

I trimmed it about four weeks ago