Feather loss around the eye and head?

[Brette]

Hi,

I've had a male gouldian for about 2 years now and in the past few months he's had some feather loss around the eye and head. The feathers on his body are perfect. It doesn't seem to be anything drastic and he's still eating well and singing.

Anyone have any guesses as to what this is? Mites? Vitamin deficiency?

[Finch Fry]

Iodine deficiency maybe?

[nixity]

I thought i had replied to this but I guess it didn't post.
Do you know how old this bird is? This is something I have usually seen in older birds.

[Brette]

Could be iodine deficiency, thanks for the suggestion.

The bird is about 2 or 3 years old.

I'm adding a vitamin supplement to his soft food in the hope that I'll see some new pin-feathers come in. But i still really have no idea what's causing this. He was always such a perfect looking bird (glossy feathers) and now this slight imperfection has me irritated.

[CandoAviary]

Does he rub his head on the perch as if he is wiping his beak more often than normal? Is there any discharge around the nostrils? Could be rubbing the feathers out.
If so could be sinus irratation, air sac mites?

[Brette]

Does he rub his head on the perch as if he is wiping his beak more often than normal? Is there any discharge around the nostrils? Could be rubbing the feathers out.
If so could be sinus irratation, air sac mites?

Nope, he doesn't seem to be itchy at all and he's not making that awful raspy, clicking noise that they get when they have air sack mites.

[Sally]

The vitamin supplement won't be enough to help with an iodine deficiency. You can use iodine in the water once a week or so, but even better is the powdered kelp in a treat cup, so he can eat some of that when he feels like it--he can control how much iodine he gets, versus forced on him in the water. Many of the online gouldian sites sell powdered kelp.

[Brette]

Many of the online gouldian sites sell powdered kelp.

Thanks, picked up some today.

[Brette]

Resolved! He has pin feathers coming in all over his head (20 days after my first post about this) and is acting his usual sassy self. It was indeed, an iodine deficiency.

Thanks everyone!

[lovemyfinch]

Question for those with experience. Is the powdered kelp that we buy at the health food store ok to give them.

[poohbear]

Question for those with experience. Is the powdered kelp that we buy at the health food store ok to give them.

Yes....but damned expensive from those rip off merchants.

[lovemyfinch]

$2.59 CDN for 100 grams, I had bought some but just wanted to make sure. Pet stores around here don't sell it, but I have found a store about an hour a way. Will have to plan a once a month trip to get all the supplies my fids need and deserve.