Help! Is my girl Gouldian molting? Odd beak problem too?

Kiko · Post by **Kiko** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:35 pm

My girl gouldian is starting to look ratty, I've noticed changes over the last couple of weeks. She looks like she is molting, but why would she now? They were born in the spring, so about 6-7 months old?
He looks gorgeous as usual, no changes there.

Her beak looks bad too, which worries me, do you know what this is?

I see her scratching and preening a lot more than he does, is this due to molting or something else? If she had mites, wouldn't he have them too?

He is after her a fair bit, he is ripping up newspaper and nesting, and he yells at her when she lands beside him sometimes. Although at night they sleep side by side on the same perch - usually, occasionally on different branches.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 10:48 pm

She looks pretty normal to me when they start to molt. Mine are molting too. I don't see anything wrong with her beak. When one of them goes into molt, the breeding season is over.

kittani79 · Post by **kittani79** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 10:51 pm

I agree, looks like the start of molting, beak looks fine.

FINCHIE · Post by **FINCHIE** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:58 am

My two girls are molting and look exactly the same as your female. She looks healthy..

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 4:32 am

Looks ok to me...just moulting...VERY bright eyes...looks healthy.Possible mite problem but doubtful...more likely she's just sorting those feathers out.

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:26 am

Its that time of the year in Oz for them to moult.And I believe its the same for them all over the world?I to think she appears to be moulting.She does look ratty if you don't mind me saying!and would be scratching a little with new feathers coming through,as you can see on her face.
I think her beek is in excellent condition.Maybe it looked black a few weeks ago and now looks different,she was ready?he wasn't? But now the ships left shore hes left standing on the dock with no where to go.metaphorically speaking.

Kiko · Post by **Kiko** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:29 am

Oh thats a HUGE relief! Yes, her beak was black a few weeks ago and isn't any longer. I had been told that even though they are in North America and bred here, that they still molt on Australian time - now I see that it so true.

Sheesh, now I am having a little weep, with the relief that she is Ok. Thank you all so much! Guess I better go reseach molting and perhaps get some FeatherUp?

You're all sure that her beak, the close up pics with the chipped area is OK?

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:28 am

To help with the moult remove all breeding boxes and put them on the breeding diet.This may sound strange but they need additional energy for the production of feathers.Some People also give them moulting aid,I cant comment on this because I don't use it.If you need to catch them its always a good time to check for parasites.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:03 am

I think her beak is fine too, Kiko. Sometimes thier beaks flake a bit - that's what her's looks like to me now. Mine do that too sometimes. I believe it's a healthy sign.

She's a beautiful bird.

Kiko · Post by **Kiko** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:23 am

Ok thats really great, I will check out the breeding diet, although I think she has everything available to her all the time. Vits, egg food, crushed oyster, greens, seed.......

He is still trying to build a nest in the food dish, and she is trying to stay out of his way.

Thank you all so much!