What Happened?

[PrettyBird]

Well as you know my 2 gouldians have made a nest and have fertilized eggs inside. They are incubating 24/7.

Today I went to feed them, and I noticed my male gould (yellow) has an injury. Its right under his chin area. Like below the bottom beak along the crease of the beak and feather area (I call it chin) I caught him to look and its definately a cut of some sort in that crease area. His chin is all puffed and swollen, had some bloody scabbing. But washed it a bit. Its still swollen and his feathers a bit brown tinged from the dried blood.

Im wonder how do you think this could have happened? All I could think of was maybe from nesting material? I have coco fiber and orchard grass.
Maybe while building the nest do you think the grass could have caught him under the chin? I cant imagine the female doing this, as its a thin line..literally in the crease of the underside of his beak.

How long will it take to heal?

[cindy]

Was he actively sitting with the female or did she not want him in the nest?

I had the same thing happen but the male chased the female out and plucked her badly under the bottom beak, she was bloody. I caught him going after her. I removed her and treated the area.

Doubt the nesting material could do that.

[DanteD716]

Shouldn't take long, could he have got it caught in between the bars by mistake

[PrettyBird]

Was he actively sitting with the female or did she not want him in the nest?

I had the same thing happen but the male chased the female out and plucked her badly under the bottom beak, she was bloody. I caught him going after her. I removed her and treated the area.

Doubt the nesting material could do that.

Im not too sure. They usually take turns sitting. She does the evenings-early mornings he does the late morninfs-early evenings. Ive never seen them fight once. They have sat together in the nest, and Ive heard nothign bad. Its usualy quite.

Theres been a few times where hes actually sung, and done the courting dance INSIDE the nesting box...I found this very funny. Maybe during that time he was jumping up and down inside a dark nest he hurt himself?

I really cant see the female doing this to him. The line is right under the beak crease as ive said and its very thin in width, and runs about 1-2mm.

[PrettyBird]

Shouldn't take long, could he have got it caught in between the bars by mistake

no..the only thing I could think of is maybe a fake plastic plant. He likes to sleep in them at night. Its attached to the top of the cage, and the leaves are a bit spikey with purple flowers on them.

[cindy]

if he was dancing in the box he may have gotten caught up panicked and hit the box enough to break the skin. I would treat it and as long as he is ok put him bck in with the female.

He could have run into something in the cage. As long as the pair is fine together I would just watch them.

[PrettyBird]

if he was dancing in the box he may have gotten caught up panicked and hit the box enough to break the skin. I would treat it and as long as he is ok put him bck in with the female.

He could have run into something in the cage. As long as the pair is fine together I would just watch them.

Thanks CIndy, I think they are fine together. They get along very well. The only thing I was worried abotu was a possible infection from it. Its pretty swollen and stuff. Hes still very active. The only thing Ive done was cleaned it with some warm water. Should I do more? Or just keep and eye on it? Hes looking alot like Jay Leno atm

[cindy]

you can use a very tiny amount of neosporin ointment on the area, try not to get it near his mouth or in his feathers to much. If it is swollen it might be that he hit something. Glad for the most part he is ok.

[finchmix22]

You could also put Quick Gel on the beak, as that is something they can eat too, but helps injuries heal.

[DanteD716]

Well hopefully he gets better!!

[kenny66]

unlikely to be from courting in the nest-I bet it was the plant. Anything sharp in the aviary, including plastic will do it

[debbie276]

I agree with Kenny. If it's swollen it sounds like it's a bit infected. I would wash it well and apply some sort of antibiotic cream.
Good luck, hoping for a speedy recovery.

[PrettyBird]

unlikely to be from courting in the nest-I bet it was the plant. Anything sharp in the aviary, including plastic will do it

Thats what Im thinking. I'll try and post a pic of him today.

[PrettyBird]

The cut keeps on opening. I see more dried blood under his chin/lower beak area...wth

[PrettyBird]

Heres some pics I just took. I dont get what could have happened to him I will not seperate them becuase they are currently sitting on fertile eggs. I know the female couldnt have done this. I think its something that happened in the cage...maybe a fake plant? Im not sure//