Young Gouldians losing flight feathers

[tumbi1]

Hello,

I am reasonably new to breeding Gouldians. I had a single pair last season that produced 12 young - I kept one of the young females and bought a yellow faced male, which I was told came from yellow backed parents (his back was a bit lighter than normal but otherwise he looks like a typical Gouldian).

This season both pairs have bred freely (in a large colony avairy), and of the 20+ young, 3 of which are yellow backs, 2 of the 'normals' have lost some of their flight feathers after being out of the nest several weeks and can no longer fly. It has been several weeks since and there looks to be no improvement. Is this a possible weakness in the yellow backed variety, or are they suffering from malnutrition? Possibly there has been a problem with their moult (although they have only lost flight feathers)? I have Owls, Painteds, and Chestnut Breasted Finches with the Gouldians, and none have had health problems and all freely breed. The avairy is well planted, and there are large patches of grass which seed, they have grit, cuttle fish etc so I don't think they are lacking anything. Aside from the missing flight feathers both youngsters look quite bright and healthy.

Has anyone seen this before?

[debbie276]

I've noticed no weakness in the Yellow body gouldians. Could be that they are just molting. Is it possible that another cage mate is plucking them?

[Jasmin]

Im very new to Gouldians and breeding, but have noticed that all the ones i have (adults and young) molt their flight feathers almost at the same time. So mine as well have gone through periods of no flight.
They all grew them back "eventually".

I've also wondered if this is normal, as I can't see how they would survive like this in the wild.

Have you checked the 2 birds to see if they're growing them back, and they're just not fully grown yet?

Mine had little "stump" feathers in this stage, and could only hop from branch to branch

Good luck!

[tumbi1]

Im very new to Gouldians and breeding, but have noticed that all the ones i have (adults and young) molt their flight feathers almost at the same time. So mine as well have gone through periods of no flight.
They all grew them back "eventually".

I've also wondered if this is normal, as I can't see how they would survive like this in the wild.

Have you checked the 2 birds to see if they're growing them back, and they're just not fully grown yet?

Mine had little "stump" feathers in this stage, and could only hop from branch to branch

Good luck!

Thanks for the reply,

they were fully feathered when they left the nest, but no new feathers yet from what I have seen. The logical explanation was it was part of their first moult, but like yourself I couldn't understand their being left flightless. Unless it doesn't happen to them in the wild? The 12 young from last year had no problems so I was a bit concerned, but it is all very new to me. As they take so long to moult I think I will have two "Gouldian Quail" for some time yet

[tumbi1]

I've noticed no weakness in the Yellow body gouldians. Could be that they are just molting. Is it possible that another cage mate is plucking them?

Yes I think it is their moult as well. The avairy is so big that they can get away from each other without problems so I haven't seen any harrassment or feather plucking.