Hair loss

[SamanthA]

My male gouldian has some feather loss around his eyes, and he is quite aggressive towards my zebras when they go near him, should I be worried?

[vettepilot_6]

Could be Iodine deficiency....

[djb78]

Is the eye area becoming puffy.

[matcho]

Scaly face mite?

[djb78]

Matcho that what I was thinking too.

[Myzomela]

Feather loss around the eyes is usually caused by either conjunctivitis ( eyelid infections/swelling), sinus infections or localised skin infections around the eyes ( bacterial, fungal or paraistes like scaly mites).
Is the skin red? dry? flaky?Itchy?
Are any other birds affected.
If you can get a photo it may help.

Cheers

Myzo

[SamanthA]

No other birds are affected, the area doesnt look red or puffy and it doesnt seem to be bothering him at all, he was like it when I bought him but just hasnt seemed to clear up at all

[Misso]

photo?

[SamanthA]

I am having some trouble uploading a photo, I uploaded it onto my facebook site and someone suggested that it looks like mites How do I fix him? Will it spread to my other birds>

[natamambo]

Samantha, if it's scaly face (mites), it's highly contagious. On budgies we used to spread Rawleighs or vaseline on the affected area, budgies are very prone to them because of the large cere above the beak. These days it's very treatable with moxidectin, which will worm your birds at the same time. Use 5ml per litre of drinking water, change daily for 3 days and repeat in 2-3 weeks, repeat in another 3 weeks and then every 3 months.

If you can't get it at your local vet you can mail order it from Colin Walker http://www.melbournebirdvet.com/