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Gouldians going bold

Posted: 25 Jul 2020, 08:04
by Bjjturk
hi everyone, I've noticed some of my gouldian finches are going bold . Females and males . Out of 20 gouldians there's around four. Just around there head and neck area. I thought maybe because of breeding but I have no nest box so I thought maybe also there Moulting but last moulting there wasn't any boldness. Cheers if anyone has any idea what's going on

Re: Gouldians going bold

Posted: 25 Jul 2020, 13:28
by Shane Gowland
This is pretty common with Gouldians—particularly females—near the end of winter. I don't think we know for sure what causes it. It seems to be semi-genetic, in that birds that experience it one year will generally experience it the following year.

Re: Gouldians going bold

Posted: 25 Jul 2020, 19:35
by Craig52
Iodine deficiency is thought to contribute to the balding as well as stress from the breeding season. What Shane said above is also maybe the case. They won't grow their feathers back till they moult out in November/December but if it happens again next year after feeding an iodine supplement it maybe genetic.
Kelp powder is a good supplement containing high iodine and it can be added to their soaked/sprouted seed or a protein soft food.

Re: Gouldians going bold

Posted: 26 Jul 2020, 19:53
by Bjjturk
Thank you everyone for the advice. Ill give the kelp powder a go . How much should I put in the soak seeds and how many times a week should I give them

Re: Gouldians going bold

Posted: 27 Jul 2020, 17:54
by Craig52
Just dust it on one or twice a week but you won't know the results unless it doesn't happen again next year. You can't overfeed kelp powder as it has other nutrients good for birds and humans so excess will excreted what the body doesn't need. Good luck.

Re: Gouldians going bold

Posted: 27 Jul 2020, 19:06
by Bjjturk
Ok goid to know. Cheers

Re: Gouldians going bold

Posted: 29 Jul 2020, 15:13
by shnapper20
hi I have been fighting this for the last 4-5 yrs. I believe it to be a combination of genetics, stress and supplements. For yrs I kept a large colony on their own with no balding, I introduced them to large mixed aviaries and the balding commenced . I selectively breed and introduce fresh blood occasionally this helped, I then stuck them on their own again this improved things and last yr I fed them prima from naturally for birds mixed with their sprouted seed during the moult. The end result was no balding this yr from about 12pr of breeding birds. I always supply twice as many nest boxes as per pairs as this reduces stress, and I keep the same amount of hens to cocks, or one extra cock as single hens can be disruptive, my mate has seen them tossing young from other birds nests. goodluck

Re: Gouldians going bold

Posted: 25 Oct 2020, 15:46
by Shane Gowland
Does anyone have a good photo of a balding gouldian hen that I can use for an article?

Re: Gouldians going bold

Posted: 27 Oct 2020, 11:08
by Rod_L
Shane Gowland wrote: 25 Oct 2020, 15:46 Does anyone have a good photo of a balding gouldian hen that I can use for an article?
None of my gouldians ever went bald. Maybe you lot have funny birds due to inbreeding. Mine were all wild caught :)

Re: Gouldians going bold

Posted: 28 Oct 2020, 05:50
by Bjjturk
Sorry mind got all there feathers back from all the advice. Cheers