Gouldians Dying?

[Derek Oz]

Hello
Has anybody been loosing many Gouldians lately. I have lost 6 in the last couple of weeks which included some of my favourites. A young yellow back hen with 6 chick's dead in the nest. Her mate I can not find presumed dead. Two 5+ year olds and 2 blues. The avairy holds 23 other mixed species with no deaths in the last 6 months.
They are all fed daily greens, sprouted seed, soaked seed and a variety of high quality seed mixes.
No mouse intrusion.
I am very disappointed loosing my expensive breeding birds
I don't expect that anyone can tell me what the problem is. I would like to know if anybody is having similar deaths.
Thanks

[Craig52]

For a start what species are the other occupations.
Gouldians need a very draught proof dry aviary especially at this time of the year as they don't have under down feathers like most finches do to stay warm.

[finchbreeder]

What Craig asked, and what size is the avairy?

[Derek Oz]

Thanks
The avairy is 4m x 3m x 2.4m.
The other birds are not the problem.
Double bars, melbas, ruddies, green singers, blue caps, orange breasts and red siskins.
Avairy has covered roof, covered back and 80% covered sides and faces north.
3 of the birds are over 5 years old and the others had been breeding. I have been keeping birds for around 8 years now and I have never lost as many in a short time. I have been thinking that the older birds were at the end of their life.
I also think that breeding gouldians can become very weak when feeding chick's.
I mainly wanted to check if there is any new diseases affecting finches.
Thanks
Derek

[finchbreeder]

You could be right about the age thing.
Breeding birds of all the types you have need to be receiving copious amounts of green seeding grasses.
Sounds like you have the cold winds licked.

[Craig52]

Sounds ok for the draught situation. The only aggressive species are the melbas in your collection.
There is no specific diseases around that only effect gouldians other than airsac mites that will knock them off very quickly. Worms don't really effect gouldians unless they are eating live insects but coccidious can effect them if they are in damp conditions even at the front of the aviary.
Do you worm your birds and do you use moxidecton plus as that should remove airsac mites in your gouldians and the other birds worms/airsac mites. Also baycox for coccidious.
Is there any chance we could see a pic of your birds and aviary?

[Derek Oz]

I have treated them for coccidious two weeks ago. I usually treat them after a lot of rain as the the floor can get wet. Water runs down the exterior walls and runs in and wets the coarse river sand. My aviary is due for a full clean soon when we get sunny days. I am going to put plastic under the sand to stop water coming under the walls.
I use moxydection twice a year, the next treatment is due next week.
My melbas are well behaved and cause little trouble. They only get bossy around the termite bowl.
Thank you for your help and interest.
Derek

[Derek Oz]

20231126_150226.jpg

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I have treated them for coccidious two weeks ago. I usually treat them after a lot of rain as the the floor can get wet. Water runs down the exterior walls and runs in and wets the coarse river sand. My aviary is due for a full clean soon when we get sunny days. I am going to put plastic under the sand to stop water coming under the walls.
I use moxydection twice a year, the next treatment is due next week.
My melbas are well behaved and cause little trouble. They only get bossy around the termite bowl.
Thank you for your help and interest.
Derek

[Derek Oz]

The sides are well covered with plastic sheeting.
Floor is half concrete and half dirt with plants.

[finchbreeder]

Beautiful looking avairy, with all natural mixed sized perching. Just what I always recommend.
I can see that being on a lower level water ingress from the ground could be a problem at certain times, but also that you have the sides well protected.
You also have a good selection of mixed nesting, and the option for the birds to make their own in the brush.
Certainly can't see anything that has not been mentioned there.