Do Gouldian finches need iodine?
Iodine is one of the elements that Gouldians finches are deprived of in captivity. They need a little more of it in their diet in order for their thyroid gland to function properly. The thyroid gland is directly related to their feather production.
Why does a Gouldian finch lose all its feathers?
In as little as 6 weeks the bird may change up to 80% of its feathers. One of the reasons behind the cause of Gouldian finch balding is that the bird has shed its old feathers but has not begun to grow any new ones, in other words it has become stuck in the moult.
What kind of mites do Gouldian finches have?
Gouldian finches have nine air sacs with very thin tissue walls, this allows the mites to feed off of the bird’s blood through these thin walls. Air sac mites will pass from bird to bird mainly through parent birds feeding their young. It is however believed that the mites can live for a limited amount of time in the cage/aviary environment.
Why does my Finch have bald patches on its back?
In extreme cases the birds will develop bald patches as a result of over-zealous scratching. The cause is mites, or lice (see Mites, in the Parasites section, above). Bleeding. When a finch is growing new feathers after moulting, or when fledglings are producing their first adult plumage, feather bleeding can occur.
What kind of problems do Australian finches have?
Particularly common in Australian finches, but not exclusively so. Iodine is required for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. Iodine deficiency can result in poor feather condition, difficulty molting, breathing and infertility problems. Particularly Australian finches (such as Gouldian’s) have a higher requirement for iodine.
Why do Lady Gouldian finches lose their feathers?
Perhaps one of the most disturbing aspects of owning Lady Gouldian Finches is when they begin to lose their head feathers and take on a rather vulture looking appearance. For many years we have told people that this was caused by insufficient iodine in their diet.
Is it normal for a Gouldian finch to go bald?
Gouldian finches that go bald are not a pretty sight. Balding birds will show signs of balding anywhere on the face, though the back of the head, and above the neck, is often the most common place for birds to go bald.
In extreme cases the birds will develop bald patches as a result of over-zealous scratching. The cause is mites, or lice (see Mites, in the Parasites section, above). Bleeding. When a finch is growing new feathers after moulting, or when fledglings are producing their first adult plumage, feather bleeding can occur.
How does a Gouldian finch get its air sacs?
Gouldian finches have nine air sacs with very thin tissue walls, this allows the mites to feed off of the bird’s blood through these thin walls. Air sac mites will pass from bird to bird mainly through parent birds feeding their young. It is however believed that the mites can live for a limited amount of time in…
