Big Fat Gouldian

[cookey]

A breeder recently gave me a couple of Gouldians in addition to what I had purchased. One of them was the fattest Gouldian I've ever seen (in my short time of Finch owning!).

The breeder said that he had recently entered him in a show and the judge had also commented that he was the fattest Gouldian he'd ever seen. Anyway, I took the bird (wrongly or rightly).

He is not interested in flying and spends ALL his time on the floor of the aviary. He has a partner and she spends a lot of time on the floor with him (although it could be argued that the food bowl is his partner). He is so fat that when he flies (if that's what you call it) he gets about a foot in the air before giving up and then going back to what he seems to do best - eating. You can almost hear him think - "Way too hard dude, focus on the eating".

Anyway, he's a really endearing little fellow. Very friendly and not at all shy of me when I go into the aviary (maybe he's lonely on the floor and appreciates the company). Sometimes when I visit the aviary I find him sitting quietly in the corner and think he's a gonner. Other times, he's jumping around (always eating between jumps), playing with his partner (always eating during playtime) and enjoying the company of the other finches that visit his floor world (and eating of course - you get the picture).

Wandering whether I'm a lone ranger owner of a big fat Gouldian or there are others out there that have similar fatties? As I'm new to this, I don't know if anything can be done, or whether I just let him enjoy his life while he can. He's certainly not suffering (just put food in front of him to find that one out). I am also wandering if he's a bit older and just couldn't be bothered anymore.

This seems to be strange to me but hoping that I get a flood of replies to tell me otherwise!

[Diane]

If he is just fat you can sometimes see the yellow deposits on in the belly when you blow gently on the feathers.
If it is just overweight I would be putting a low perch for him to keep him off the ground and moving the food and water higher, just a bit higher to start with. This might get him to exercise at bit, you will need to keep a good eye on him for the first day or two to make sure he can actually reach the food and water.

[vettepilot_6]

Is he fat or puffed up to look fat? wings dropped? sounds off colour to me...pictures would be good

[ruthieharris]

.

Other times, he's jumping around (always eating between jumps), playing with his partner (always eating during playtime) and enjoying the company of the other finches that visit his floor world (and eating of course - you get the picture).

Aw bless him sounds like a lil fat kiddie hehe Aw hope he loses weight so he can enjoy life a bit more Can you post a pic ?

[Misso]

It sounds to me you have just been given a sick bird.

[cookey]

He's a good poser so I'm sure I'll be able to get a good picture. As soon as I work out how to reduce the photo size and upload, I will add the picture fir your viewing pleasure.

[vettepilot_6]

He is not interested in flying and spends ALL his time on the floor of the aviary. He has a partner and she spends a lot of time on the floor with him (although it could be argued that the food bowl is his partner). He is so fat that when he flies (if that's what you call it) he gets about a foot in the air before giving up and then going back to what he seems to do best - eating. You can almost hear him think - "Way too hard dude, focus on the eating".

Anyway, he's a really endearing little fellow. Very friendly and not at all shy of me when I go into the aviary (maybe he's lonely on the floor and appreciates the company). Sometimes when I visit the aviary I find him sitting quietly in the corner and think he's a gonner. Other times, he's jumping around (always eating between jumps), playing with his partner (always eating during playtime) and enjoying the company of the other finches that visit his floor world (and eating of course - you get the picture

Obviously you didnt quarantine him from your other birds....does he have bobbing tail? clicking noise if you hold him to your ear....if so sorry to say he has air sack mites and you will have to treat whole aviary....I really hope he is just fat as you say....but as BB says you can blow feathers apart and check for fatty deposits...

[Simba]

If a bird is kept in a cage for a long time with not much flying space it's wings become weak and it will struggle to fly when first put in an avairy, assuming there is not some other problem it will normally build up strength over a week or so and start flying again.

Put a low perch in the avairy for it and also maybe add some vitimins to the water to help it build up energy.

[cookey]

Thanks for the advice again. I felt a bit panicky when you mentioned the airsac mites and worked myself up a bit, convinced this was it and my 'honeymoon' with the new finches was well and truly over. I went down to the aviary and caught BFG (that's my acronym for him) and listened very closely for some time. I'm really pleased to say that I could not hear anything at all in his breathing. So much so that I had to resist the temptation to shake him to make sure he was still alive!

I also looked through across the considerable expanse of belly feathers and couldn't see any white spots or dots. I must say though, I really did get the impression that BFG may be an older bird (first to admit this is based on my three weeks of finch ownership). Thanks for the input Simba, you are spot on, BFG was in a cage inside a shed when I got him so maybe thats what it is. I've put a couple of very low perches (almost touching the floor) and then a couple more a little higher to encourage him to climb up. I'll also add some vitamins to the water.

Anyway, I've attached a photo of BFG.

[ruthieharris]

Holy Jesus ! Aw Cute Lil Chub Chub , love his name too