Nesting Gouldian Hen - puffed up and shaking.. Sick?

[Jasmin]

Hi everyone,

My nesting Gouldian hen started to puff up and shake continuously since yesterday, when she's out of the nest. She's been sitting on the eggs for about 11 days now and everything seems to be fine otherwise. She's still eating and drinking, but sits puffed up and shaking pretty bad.

She's a first time parent-to-be and its my first time breeding, or possibly dealing with a sick Gouldian... So I'm a little lost.

Any ideas..?

She's getting a well balanced diet.. Good seed, egg food, calcium, broccoli.. And extra vitamins in the water. Room temp is 69 degrees.

Thanks in advance for your insight!

[ac12]

Does not sound good.
Put an incandescent lamp on the cage so she can warm up.
Maybe even put it near the nest and aim it at the nest to warm the nest also.

[Jasmin]

Thanks Gary,
I really hope it's nothing but it looks like something
And I was soooo excited about the eggs hopefully hatching in a few days and now this

[Dayna]

It really doesn't sound good at all. I don't know what would cause uncontrollable shaking unless it would be a neurological problem... Maybe try contacting Laraine at Lady Gouldian or her sister (believe her name is Joanne) at Lady Gouldian Finch. Or if your into more holistic methods try Lainey Alexander. She runs the yahoo group essential bird.

[Jasmin]

Thank you for the advice.
She's shaking 'less' today, but is still puffed up all the time.
She looks sick, but is still eating/drinking normally and as far as I can see, still sitting on the eggs.
Very bizzare.. I'll keep you posted on her condition.

[kheather]

hopefully she will be o.k., or you can come up with something to try! Heat is for sure the first most important thing!! How is her breathing? does she look more like a shiver or a spasm? is she still going about her buisness or is she in distress? I am asking so that maybe the answers could help give a clue to someone as to what maybe to recommend. I doubt if you could take her to a vet and get her back on nest....and there are somethings not safe for nestlings as far as treatments and such. Warmth most important and i agree add a liitle towards nestbox, so that will help her conserve energy keeping them warm paerhaps! there is a possibility unless you have foster you may have to let these eggs go to try and save her. Hopefully someone has some recommendations for you!

[Jasmin]

Thanks for the help Heather!

To answer your question, she 'looks' sick, but doesn't look 'miserable'
She's going about her business normally, eating, drinking and still very devoted to those eggs!
The shaking is comparable to when a human has a fever and has those constant shivers. All the feathers on her body are fluttering when she's on the perch puffed up. Then she'll go to the food bowl normally (not shaking) eat ok, then go back on the perch, puff up and shiver. It's pretty warm in the room so I don't think it's a temperature issue.
I'll keep you posted!

[L in Ontario]

When you say it is warm in the room - exactly how warm is it?

[poohbear1976]

When you say it is warm in the room - exactly how warm is it?

She said 69* which to me I would think is a little on the chilly side since the recommended temp is between 73*-75* and saying no lower than the 73* which is where I keep my heat at.. Am I wrong in my thinking here?

[L in Ontario]

Oh thanks for that Poohbear1976 - I missed that. Anywhere around 70* (68* to 72*) is fine for normal healthy finches. One or two degrees difference either way is okay.

But a heatlamp is an absolute MUST first-step for any finch that is fluffed and/or acting ill and/or sleeping a lot during the day. And it has to be kept turned on for 24/7 until that finch is better (not fluffed for at least 24 hours).

[Jasmin]

Thank you all for your help!

I am happy to say that she is 100% back to normal.
I'm embarassed to say, but I think it was just too cold in the room.
The rest of the house was fine, BUT it was a very very windy day outside, and through this experience I discovered we have drafty windows.

I'm very grateful for the quick warning signs the hen gave me, with that shaking/trembling. Otherwise I would have never know they are cold.

On an even happier set of news:

we have 3 little hatchlings! I took a peak in yesterday and there they were, heads up in the air, waiting for food!

I took a quick picture of them, hopefully it attaches ok to this post.

[debbie276]

Great news! Those chicks look very well fed.
Best of luck with your new family

[Emma]

Im so glad to hear that she is ok now. And congrats to all your chicks!

[CandoAviary]

Just caught this post. Sometimes a drop in calcium can result in muscle tremmors. May sure she has a good source of calcium and vitamin D3 so that her body can ustilize that calcium. There are products like morning bird calcium plus that has both the calcium and vit. D and is easily administered to the hen by drop or through the water.

[kheather]

I was so glad to see the news is not only good, but great...the little ones look real good too!! congratulations on the babies, and I am so glad your hen is doing fine now!!