gouldians face problem

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 6:25 am

Thanks for sharing that pic. Mine looks a little less worse...She appears fine also and eats well.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:16 am

That's a shame (but totally understandable) not to be able to use that blue hen. I'd still have hope that she moults out next time round. How old is she?

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:19 pm

Two and a half Liz...

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:28 pm

Has she been through two moults in this condition or one, Paul?

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:48 pm

One Liz...

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 6:51 pm

hmmm very curious situation you have there.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 4:43 pm

I put Sugar into a hospital cage today. She was sleeping a bit and puffy.
She has lost almost all the feathers on her head and face. I am now very concerned about her. She appeared fine in the aviary until this morning. She is eating and drinking. I have her under a heat light and she is warmer now and not so puffy. I am giving her some iron in her water, charcoal and egg shells, seed, millet , powdered kelp, soaked seeds and regular seeds. Can you think of anything else I could do for her? I hated to stress her by catching her and removing her from all the other birds, but I really think she needs the rest. She raised all her babies and appears to be beginnning her molt. Her beak is no longer black. I know she looks so pitiful. It breaks my heart. I just hope she doesn't feel as terrible as she looks. Do you think she is okay alone in the cage after being with so many birds? I don't want her stressed even more.

birdbrain · Post by **birdbrain** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 6:21 pm

Oh that poor thing. It may be worth catching her in a net and putting her alone for awhile to see if she gets better. I'm finding that using a net to catch up birds is faster and easier on the both of us.

I was having problems with my female but she wasn't as bad as yours. I used the mite spray just once and she seemed to improve right away. I know yours will take something else. I just don't know what at this point.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 6:35 pm

I already have her in a cage alone. I caught her from my aviary this morning. It was very easy. She was sleeping on a limb and I just reached up and got her. No problem.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 7:48 pm

Hi Donna, I've seen other bald Gouldians - they were in a moult and I hope that's what your's is going through as well. Are you using any feather enhancer like Feather Fast or Feather Up? I think it best that you have her alone in a cage with heat after all the work she has done recently. Here's to hoping she grows her feathers back beautifully in the next couple of months.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 8:02 pm

Thanks Liz. I really do not think that her problem is a molt because she was doing this while breeding. I do have feather fast, but now I am giving her some other supplements. I will add the feather fast in a few days. Don't want to overdose her. The reason I becamse concerned was her sleeping and puffiness today. She seems much better tonight.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 8:41 pm

Yes I thought you provided everything in your birdie-buffet. The extra heat should help with the fluffiness allowing her to concentrate on getting better rather than putting all her resources to trying to keep warm.

Do you have all your birds on a preventive maintenance schedule for mites? Most likely you do.

GOULDYGIRL · Post by **GOULDYGIRL** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 8:52 pm

This may sound strange but I wonder if this could be very similar to hairloss in some dog breeds. I know for instance in pomeranians they have a problem with hair loss. Especially the show quality really thick coated typy ones. They are doing a lot of research on it and some causes are low thyroid or alapecia X I believe it's called. Just wondering if it's something similar in birds. For the most part it's mainly cosmetic and although it doesn't look too pretty they can be perfectly healthy. Anyway, just a thought.
Renee

birdbrain · Post by **birdbrain** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 12:27 am

NO! Not my dogs too! Something else to worry about. grumble, grumble.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 7:19 am

Liz, I just treated them this past weekend with s76 for mites. I do this as a preventive every three months. I am sure it isn't mites. No other birds show any symptons of this at all.

Renee, I think it is either what you describing, hereditary or something missing in her diet.

My concern yesterday was that she didn't feel well and was sleeping a bit more than usual. It isn't cold here and my aviary remains around 68-70 at all times.

I will be home today, so I am going to just watch her closely. Thanks all.

FINCHforum

gouldians face problem

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