Blue Gouldians - specifically what is their immune deficit?

[Finchy]

Hi

Do we know yet exactly what the immune deficit is in Blue Gouldians which makes them so vulnerable? I know that there are endless problems caused by cabinet breeding under Bengalese that would affect any bird negatively, but I mean beyond that. Because the better we understand it, the more likely we can design a workaround.

e.g. If the loss of red/yellow pigment in the feathers reflects a generalised failure to utilise carotenes properly, and therefore probably also a failure to convert beta carotene to vitamin A, this will result in quite extreme immune deficits, guarranteed. What do you think of this theory? Has anyone researched the exact mechanism?

If this is true, then it would make sense to try giving them pre-formed Vitamin A supplements instead of (or as well as) carotenes. Perhaps that would solve the problem?

Is there any research on this? What do we know so far?

Ta

[Diane]

Ive read somwhere that blue gouldians have trouble using Vitamin A, cant remember where I read that, would have to search a bit more to find it, but this below might have a few pages of interest
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=blue ... =firefox-a

[finchbreeder]

This is only my opinion but. I do not believe the blue gouldian is any weaker than any of the other mutations were when they were first being established. Just cross your blues with nice strong normals and all will be fine.
LML

[AMCA26]

Yep, had no problem with my Blues in general. No Bengalese, No Heaters and No Insulation. I would say geting the right birds and carry on with puting good Splits to the mutation you have. The Vitamins i use are from the same company as cronshas mentioned in another thread but i use 2 different ones. I bought Gouldians yesterday and the condition that my Gouldians are in compared to the ones i just got are a big difference and i am wanting to see these birds appearance change by using these products which i know works and all my birds get these vitamins ( zebs included ).
Happy breeding this year.

[SamDavis]

I'm afraid I can't answer your question finchy and I've never kept blues so maybe I'm talking through my you know what. However it does seem that most of the NSW ones are weak as you know what, whereas when in Melbourne last year I saw heaps of great blues that I just haven't seen up hear in any number. Apologies to my fellow NSW mates - although I was born down south I've spent virtually all my life in NSW so I don't make this comment lightly. You Vic guys seem to be really (and somewhat surprisingly ) capable in this regard!

[Finchy]

Yes, it sounds like there's a critical mass of breeders doing it properly down there - outdoor aviary bred and parent reared, minimal drugs. Not much of that up here! Rare as Gouldians' teeth.

[Finchy]

Still, back to the point, it's possible that successful breeders are not only doing the aforementioned things right, but are also accidentally or intentionally supplying plenty of pre-formed Vitamin A (ie Retinol). Thanks to bb's great link I see I am far from the first to have pondered this idea. It might deserve more emphasis in our breeding efforts ... right after we fling all those Bengalese cabinet breeders off a low cliff (just enough for some bruising with no permamnent damage ).

[gomer]

Having deep pockets to start with and not worrying to much where the bottom is will get birds on the perch eventually.As far as vitamins etc go my blues like to drink them, but as do the most common cheap finches.Where as the less common ones don't seem to drink a whole lot.