For concerns related to avian illness and wellbeing.
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dfcauley
- Molting

- Posts: 6892
- Joined: Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:28 am
- Location: Carrollton, Georgia
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by dfcauley » Thu May 22, 2008 6:42 pm
I have acquired two gouldians today. I picked them up from someone who just did not want them anymore.

They are in the middle of their first adult molt. I put them into my open aviary, but kept them in their cage. They do not seem to have alot of balance nor do they seem very happy. I thnk they were taken care of and given things that they needed such as miracle meal, charcoal and egg food but I am concerned a little about them. It could just be the molt and them making a move in the middle of it. I let them out for a few minutes so I could clean their cage and give them everything fresh, but the male ended up on the floor and so I just scooped him up and put him back.
Any thoughts on anything special that I should be doing for them? I want to take them out of the cage asap.
They are a brother and sister that my pair raised and I gave to a good friend who wanted them soooo bad. Now she has changed her mind......
Their cage is plenty large enough. It is not too small for them at all.
Donna
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atarasi
- Weaning

- Posts: 1643
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:50 pm
- Location: Washington state, USA
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by atarasi » Thu May 22, 2008 11:21 pm
I don't mean to second guess what you're doing, but shouldn't they be in quarantine for at least 30 days before you let them with the other birds, even if they are inside their own cage?
You can never truly tell if new birds are healthy just by looking at them.
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Sally
- Mod Extraordinaire

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- Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:55 pm
- Location: DFW, Texas
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by Sally » Thu May 22, 2008 11:43 pm
I'm assuming that your friend didn't have other birds, and since these guys were yours to begin with, you know where they have been, and you are comfortable with not quarantining them. Since they are in the middle of their first adult molt, they are probably not feeling great. Mine are going thru that first molt now, and from time to time, they will get a little puffy and lethargic, but they are chowing down on eggfood. Just keep an eye on them, since it is a very stressful time for them. It is not unusual to be puffy and lethargic during this time, but they shouldn't stay that way for long.
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dfcauley
- Molting

- Posts: 6892
- Joined: Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:28 am
- Location: Carrollton, Georgia
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by dfcauley » Fri May 23, 2008 5:55 am
Thanks Sally. No she had no other birds and they were mine so I didn't feel a great need to seperate them for long from the other birds. I wanted to put them into the aviary asap so they could have more room and be more comfy. I don't think there is anything wrong with them other than the mold and it is pretty major right now.
My biggest concern was why the male wasn't flying well. I think he had dehudrated some during his move by not drinking enough. I have given him NV in his water and today I am treating them both for air sac mites as a preventive but I am sure they don't have them. They are pretty, but I was very shocked by the color of the male because his dad was purple on his bread and he is white. And both have orange faces. Not like their parents at all. I guess you know what what you will get with a gouldian do you? I am inexperienced with them.
Donna
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dfcauley
- Molting

- Posts: 6892
- Joined: Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:28 am
- Location: Carrollton, Georgia
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by dfcauley » Sat May 24, 2008 7:14 am
okay, I have opened the door to their cage, the hen will not come out yet. Others are going in to visit with them and eat their foodl

The cock came out last night for a little while ,but I tell you his flying skills are NOT good. He doesn't seem to have good balance. And my shaftail was not being too nice to him so I put him back in the cage for the night. And he bit me good! That was my first time to have a bite. Mine have never bit me.
My male gouldian Sprout seems to want to stay in the cage with them. He is molting also. It seems that he feels their pain.

I really never knew that the molt was so bad or I might have never gotten gouldians even though I do love them and their peacefulness. But I don't care for watching them go through all this.

Donna