gouldians face problem
- L in Ontario
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- L in Ontario
- Mod Emeritus
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- Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:29 am
- Location: Barrie, Ontario Canada
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- L in Ontario
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- dfcauley
- Molting
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gouldians face problem update and pic
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.

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.

Donna
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- Nestling
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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.
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.
- L in Ontario
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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.
Liz
- dfcauley
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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. 

Donna
- L in Ontario
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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.
Do you have all your birds on a preventive maintenance schedule for mites? Most likely you do.
Liz
- GOULDYGIRL
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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
Renee
Renee
Beautiful Gouldians!
Beautiful Gouldians!
- dfcauley
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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.
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.
Donna