gouldian molt

Hope · Post by **Hope** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:57 pm

My poor little gouldian...I really thought he was sick and I was going to lose him. He's my newest one and I had not seen him molt. I think the other males had been picking on him as he had lost alot of feathers on the back of his neck. I have isolated him and there are no signs of being ill and he's pretty active. Many new pin feathers are coming in, but he looks so bedaggled.

It's really sort of scary when they go thru such a hard molt. I was thinking of putting him in with my female star and society to see if he'll learn to eat better as he's so finicky and not sure if he's getting enough vitamins.
Do they benefit from a heat source during molting?

Post by **Sally** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:48 pm

I agree, it is scary when Gouldians do that hard molt. My juvies are starting into their first molt, and they don't look too bad, but I pulled the nests, and now all the adult birds are starting to molt and look awful. I don't believe heat is necessary, but it sure wouldn't hurt anything, and it might make him feel a little better. Do you have any Feather Fast or Feather Up? I really think the Gouldians need extra help when they molt, it is hard on them. He would probably like a little eggfood, too. I also give my Australian finches iodine once a week--figure if the Gouldians need it, the Stars, Owls, etc. might need it too.

Hope · Post by **Hope** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:15 pm

I mix FeatherUp in his eggfood, but he hasn't touched it. I think I will try soaked millet and sprinkle it with FeatherUp. It seems the millet spray is the only thing he's interested in.
I can't wait till he colors out again as he was my most gorgeous bird. He was the early bird as the others will probably start around May.
Bad thought..do birds every die from the stress of molting?

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:06 pm

ya might sprinkle the feather up on his norm food also, and I would add heat so if hes fillin bummed hes snuggly, lol

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:50 am

Hope, have a look at the finch info site there is some brilliant gouldian information there and some great pics of gouldians in moult.
this is the best site I have found online for gouldian info, whoever put it together was very thorough but also worded it so we can all understand (unlike some sites who love to use huge words) and the amount of pics is unreal

Hope · Post by **Hope** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:26 am

Well, my LG is going to survive and so am I. I really think the other goulds were plucking him, he no longer looks like a mini buzzard.

The back neck feathers have filled in and his head is just coverd with little pin feathers. I think it helped to move him into a different cage.

His head color use to be a deep reddish-orange, but it seems to have lost the reddish color. Is there anything special to feed them to help intensify their colors or will just the normal vitamins and veggies be enough?
He's not a big carrot eater.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:04 am

I grow rye grass in a pot for mine. They absolutely love it. I also give them chickweed from the yard. They are all over it the minute I put it in the aviary. Mine are also molting, but they appear fine.