Is this normal behaviour????

[skyjump100]

I have a male Gouldian who recently lost his partner. They had hatched 4 eggs (and tossed two babies that I had fostered from another pair) when the female suddenly died. I have no idea why but just found her one morning. The male failed to feed the young and I had no other foster parent available so the babies died. Since then the male has become a hyperactive menace!
He appears to drink a lot as well as his water feeder is always just about empty of water every morning. I'm not sure if he is actually drinking it but just flicking it everywhere (cant see any water marks anywhere). He dips his beak in the water 6 - 8 times in quick succession and shakes his head every time. He is also very hyperactive and is continually flitting from perch to perch and only settles done when the lights go out. When not flitting about he stands on the side of his water bath and flits his wings really fast.
In addition, it looks like his droppings are very very wet.

Apart from all that he looks very alert, moves well, is in great feather and sings loads.

I'm not sure what is going on here so any suggestions would be appreciated! I'm looking for a mate for him but not sure if he is sick or not and dont want to risk putting another female with him is there is a chance she will end up like his original mate.

[debbie276]

Not sure if this could be a problem or not. I'd watch for other signs and see if he settles down at all before I introduced another mate. Watch his droppings for any change, they really shouldn't be wet. Are you feeding lots of greens?
Maybe a little extra heat and some hard boiled eggs would be a good idea.

[skyjump100]

Thanks Debbie,,
He isnt eating greens at all and I have today upped the heat for him so hopefully he will be ok. He hasnt been eating any eggfood however will try some hard boiled egg to see if that tempts him

[debbie276]

Wish I could help more, best of luck

[skyjump100]

You are always a help Debbie!!!

[Bhatta]

I had similar experience. Once I kept a female gouldian alone in a cage for some treatment, it did the same. However, after 3/4 days it settled down. Then I paired it with a male and it worked fine.