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Re: Gouldian hen can't fly

Posted: 11 Mar 2011, 22:22
by Diane
Would an austerity diet help start a moult?

Re: Gouldian hen can't fly

Posted: 11 Mar 2011, 22:31
by GregH
She's on the worst diet possible - the rejected seed from the java sparrow's mix. No treats greens, insects and the only company she has in the quarantine room are the finch killing sugar gliders. She calls to her mate/brother all day and still she won't moult.

Re: Gouldian hen can't fly

Posted: 13 Mar 2011, 11:00
by SamDavis
I have a strawberry hen in a small cage who lost most of her primaries on one wing and (obviously) can't fly. Was my fault I think, the primaries were lost as I caught and moved her to another aviary.
Re the diamond hen Greg - maybe pluck out the worst of the flight feathers to encourage new ones to regrow immediately.

Re: Gouldian hen can't fly

Posted: 13 Mar 2011, 11:54
by GregH
I've thought about it but the tug they require to dislodge them is more than I'm prepared to give. Pity moult-aid doesn't actually induce moulting.

Re: Gouldian hen can't fly

Posted: 13 Mar 2011, 12:16
by Diane
GregH wrote:She's on the worst diet possible
If thats not working how about going the other way and feeding her the best diet she might put some of the goodness into the feathers.

Re: Gouldian hen can't fly

Posted: 13 Mar 2011, 12:35
by jusdeb
Dont know about plucking birds either , cant even bring myself to pull a feather from my Corella let alone a little finch .

How much influence does the weather have on bringing birds into moult ?

What vitamins / minerals are mostly needed when birds moult ?

If only birds could talk and tell us what is going on .

Re: Gouldian hen can't fly

Posted: 13 Mar 2011, 14:42
by Diane
Feathers are made of beta keratin(sp?)which a protein, so I guess eggs would be the first most easily digested food to offer and oil seeds. Sprouted seed too. Read that garlic is good for feathers too.
Found this recipe for molting birds but it does refer to pigeons so some of the seed may be too big.
http://www.birdhealth.com.au/bird/pigeo ... eding.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Gouldian hen can't fly

Posted: 13 Mar 2011, 16:03
by natamambo
Hate to hijack my own thread :lol: but 3 days on calcium and she's back in the aviary :thumbup: .

Re: Gouldian hen can't fly

Posted: 13 Mar 2011, 16:14
by Diane
Excellent news, why do you think the calcium works so quickly?

Re: Gouldian hen can't fly

Posted: 13 Mar 2011, 16:50
by jusdeb
:thumbup: