Aussie Finch Forum

Hi all,

Last season I cabinet breed with a pair of normal gouldians. One of the fledglings was able to make the perch for a week or two before not being able to get enough lift to make it up. I put him in a small cage for a while with plenty of calcium and ornithon supplement. He moulted okay but never got flight back. He now inhabits to bottom of the aviary.

On the last couple of days I had three gouldians fledge. The last one was two days behind its siblings in fledgling when I checked the nest in jumped.

Three days later this bird still isn't flying.

Last years one is the uncle to the young one.

So, could it be diet related or possibly genetic? Any suggestions welcome?

Have you ever had a gouldian or other that was never really able to fly?
Cheers
Ian

iaos wrote:Hi all,

Last season I cabinet breed with a pair of normal gouldians. One of the fledglings was able to make the perch for a week or two before not being able to get enough lift to make it up. I put him in a small cage for a while with plenty of calcium and ornithon supplement. He moulted okay but never got flight back. He now inhabits to bottom of the aviary.

On the last couple of days I had three gouldians fledge. The last one was two days behind its siblings in fledgling when I checked the nest in jumped.

Three days later this bird still isn't flying.

Last years one is the uncle to the young one.

So, could it be diet related or possibly genetic? Any suggestions welcome?

Have you ever had a gouldian or other that was never really able to fly?
Cheers
Ian

Neighbour had one out of her last clutch came out 2 days later and was a week on the ground before flying up with its fledglings

Thanks VP. Fingers crossed this one finds it's wings shortly.

Cheers Ian

Had my first load of fledglings come out. 20 in all. There is a week since the first to the last clutches that came out. Most were robust but there were a few a bit "light on" meaning they were a couple of days early but followed the brothers and sisters out. Funnily enough some stayed in the nest for three or four days after their brothers/sisters decided to see the big wide world.Mum and dad fed those inside and outside. Some were down low for the first few days but parents looked after them. Still have a couple that aren't real strong fliers but they are getting there. Don't be too concerned. What will be will be. If anyone can get 100% from nest to fledge to 1st moult they can class themselves as legends. Not many of those around IMHO. If they dont make it it is probably a good thing. Maybe they had some weakness which could be carried on. As I said, let things be, if they make it they do, if not then so be it. There is a reason for everything. Put it this way, if they were in the wild they would have lasted all of ................1 hour... if that.

good luck.

Matcho.

He moulted okay but never got flight back. He now inhabits to bottom of the aviary.

I presume you have had a good look at this bird and there is no obvious deformity/stiffness/limited movement of his wings.
The fact that he initially had some flight and then got worse would make it unlikely that you are dealing with a nutritional problem.
I would say more likely to injury, either resulting in some musculo-skeletal damage or possible neurological.
Does he appear to have normal coordination other than not being able to fly ?
Genetic disorders are always possible but rare.
Any thoughts from the experts

Cheers
Brett

BrettB wrote:

He moulted okay but never got flight back. He now inhabits to bottom of the aviary.

I presume you have had a good look at this bird and there is no obvious deformity/stiffness/limited movement of his wings.
The fact that he initially had some flight and then got worse would make it unlikely that you are dealing with a nutritional problem.
I would say more likely to injury, either resulting in some musculo-skeletal damage or possible neurological.
Does he appear to have normal coordination other than not being able to fly ?
Genetic disorders are always possible but rare.
Any thoughts from the experts

Cheers
Brett

The older one does look a bit unco. When he tries to fly he sometimes ends up flailing on his back.

Anyway, it seems like I was worried prematurely about the young one. We have lift off!
It's the first time I aviary breed gouldians so not 100% sure on what to expect..

Cheers Ian

"The older one does look a bit unco. When he tries to fly he sometimes ends up flailing on his back."
Had one with that problem a little while back. But he had been fine untill attacked throught the wire by the dreaded pest birds.
On catching him and examining him I found his spine curved. They had sure done a job on him. With careful placing of perches to form a ladder he was able to continue to live happily in his avairy for a couple more years (and even managed an ofspring) before he fell off his perch permanently. Never seemed to be in pain or I may have had to call hubby or mother in to help.
LML