Sad News

GOULDYGIRL · Post by **GOULDYGIRL** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 2:44 pm

I just lost my RH female Gouldian

( I have no idea what happened. She seemed fine one minute and next I looked she's dead at the bottom of the cage

All I can say is she never seemed quite right. Out of the 8mos I've had her she never showed any interest in breeding, was always a bit skittish and her face feathers never came in all the way after her molt. She also had a case of mites or maybe it was an upper respiratory condition that she seemed to recover from after treating her. That was a few months ago and she seemed fine after that. I'm very shocked and sad.

Just a few weeks ago I separated her and my young female Sam from the males because my RH male was bothering Sam. That's why I sold most of my society finches so I had the space for my Gouldian Hens. Now my young female is alone

I had planned to get another female but in the meantime I put one of the society males in with her for company. I didn't want to separate the two society males who are living with my male Goulds but I didn't want to leave my one remaining Gould female all alone either. I'm not happy about separating the two society boys, they were very close and preened and slept together but even if I got another Gouldian Hen right now I couldn't put her right away with my existing one.

I am so sad

Renee

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 2:48 pm

I'm so sorry to hear this, Renee! We all go through it but it's never easy. (hugs)

GOULDYGIRL · Post by **GOULDYGIRL** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:03 pm

Thanks Liz. It's just so frustrating. When I first bought them I had them in a very small cage for a few months, then I moved them to a larger cage and they started molting, then the female seemed sick. She was clicking a lot and I treated her, then she recovered (so I thought) and she finished her molt and a few months later my RH male was ready to start breeding but she wasn't interested. Then I scrimp and save because I wanted another pair so bad and I get a female that is too young to breed and my RH male starts bothering her. I never understood what was wrong with my RH female, she never showed an ounce of interest. I thought I was going to have a new flight built with the new pair and it was put on hold. I had to put my new pair in with my RH pair and then I had trouble so I sold my societies so the hens could be separated. For the last 8mos I put so much time and money into these birds and I haven't even got one clutch yet. It's very discouraging but like I said, something never seemed quite right with this girl. I bought the pair from a bird store though and they are not banded so I really don't know too much about them, they could have been related for all I know, or she could have been much older then the male.

These birds have become my passion. I don't have money to pay all my bills but I have to buy them the best foods and supplements every month. sigh.. It was just a bit of a shock. HOpe I can find a nice female soon.

Renee

lovemyfinch · Post by **lovemyfinch** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:09 pm

So sorry for your loss Renee.

I know what you mean about putting your everything into it, I just realized this week that unless someone starts breeding I,m going to have to wait to buy more birds. I tried to go too fast...couldn't help myself I just love the little buggers.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 4:06 pm

So sorry to hear this Renee. I wish you lived closer to me and I would give you one of my gouldian hens.

It is heartbreaking to loose one.

GOULDYGIRL · Post by **GOULDYGIRL** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 4:24 pm

Thanks Donna

I wish I lived closer too, you have the most beautiful Gouldians. I'd love that.

I'm feeling very impulsive and want to just run out and buy another female right now but I know it's not the right thing to do yet. It sure would make me feel better, sigh..

Anyway, do you guys think it's ok to have my other female with one of the male societies? I hated to separate the two boys but then Sam my girl would have been all alone till who knows?? Should I put both society males in with her or just the one. I thought about putting the two but then thought they are so close, maybe she'd feel left out? What do you guys think?

Renee

Finch Fry · Post by **Finch Fry** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:38 pm

sorry for the loss. I just experienced my first loss. It was heart wrenching !!!!
Anyways, go ahead and impulse buy, it will make you feel better. LOL. And you can justify it cause you wont be leaving the mate lonely!!!

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 12:22 am

Sorry to hear of your hen's passing. Hope you can find another to fill the void.
I think that she should do fine with the 2 societies. I say put the 3 together

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 1:16 am

Sorry to hear the news of your hen passing away.
I say don't put the societies in with any Gouldians. Unless your societies were purchased from a gouldian breeder or someone who uses societies to foster Australian birds, you never know if they are carriers for Campylobacter. I might be over reacting, but from someone who used to have societies with it, you don't want them sharing the same water feeder.

GOULDYGIRL · Post by **GOULDYGIRL** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 6:57 am

Thank you all. I'm still in shock and I'm going to bury her today in my back yard. I know it happens with birds but it was just totally unexpected.

Anyway, I don't like the idea of keeping my female Gould with the societies either Jordan, I'm not worried about the disease, as much as leaving her without her own kind. I just don't want her to be a lone. Even if I find another female, she'd have to go through quarantine for a while so hopefully it will only be temporary. I only have the two society boys and when I get my larger flight built they will be together with the goulds. I plan to do individual cage breeding with my Gouldians and keep the sexes separated when they are not breeding.
Renee

Pukasand · Post by **Pukasand** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 1:36 pm

Renee, so very, very sorry to hear about losing your female.

From what you say, sounds like she may have felt poorly all along. Perhaps your attention and good care kept her afloat for this long. You didn't lose her from poor management or feeding... it was her time. I know what you mean about the best food, etc. My birds eat/live better than I do. You were the best owner she could have had in her short life. Feel good about that.

GOULDYGIRL · Post by **GOULDYGIRL** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:41 am

Thanks Pukasand ;)

Renee

cartel · Post by **cartel** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 12:41 am

Sorry to hear about your loss GG