Newsletter

To reach us by telephone:

770-939-4531

 ADVICE FROM YOUR

BIRD’S BEST ADVOCATES

 
Do you have a question that you have not found an answer for throughout this website or in my FAQ? Use this link to send your question directly to me. Be as specific as possible about the symptom or behavior in question...
 
 
 

Dr. Rob is a world renowned avian veterinarian in Sydney, Australia. He was the veterinary consultant for the Northern Territory Nature and Conservation Commission for a scientific study of the disease status in the wild population of the endangered Gouldian Finches as it related to a "Recovery Plan".

 

 

Tailai O’Brien is a Parrot Behavior Consultant who has worked along side Dr. Marshall and has developed special regimes for successful bird training and behavioral development. Fill out her Questionnaire so that she may help you with your parrot’s bad behavior.
 
 
 
 
 

Ladygouldian.com

is now a proud sponsor of the

 Save the Gouldian Fund

 

A portion of all of our sales will be donated to the fund, in the hope that we may contribute in a small way to saving the wild

Gouldian Finches.

 

CLICK HERE to learn more…


 

You can read the Archived Questions from the menu bar above. If you have a new question, submit it below.

Recently Submitted Questions



Alejandro Gonzalez from Dominican Republic asks: Hi. I have a couple of gouldians. The cock was just treated for a possible canker, he survived and he is ok now, at least that what I see. I have noticed that they are drinking to much water, and their droppings are somewhat watery. The temperature in my country is 90° F and the humidity is about 85% the whole year. Please let me know what do you think about this and the treatment that I need to follow. The treatment for the canker or coccidia was with Oxitetracycline and vitamins. Looking foward to hear about you. Best Regards, Alejandro
Hello Alejandro, I believe that the excessive thirst and watery droppings are a result of the outdoor aviary (heat and humidity). Give Quik-gel as part of a heat stress treatment. See the article on my website (www.birdhealth.com.au) in the poultry section of the CLIENTS ONLY webpage. All the Best, Rob


Amri Aguilera from Miami, Florida asks: Hello Dr. Rob., One of my Gloster corona canaries nearly got bald early this year and I treated him with S76, Then he started moulting in July and by the end of August he had his amazing crest all grown. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that area around the beak is losing the feathers so I don't know what it could be. I don't think it's scaly mites but I'm treating him again with S76. If its not mites could it be an iodide deficiency or maybe a fungus. What would be the treatment in case that he's got any of those.
Hello Amri, You should be administering the S76 for 2 consecutive days every month to your canary flock. This will help prevent problems with both air sac mites and scaly mites. If you are seeing a cauliflower like growth along the beak line where you are seeing the missing feathers, that is a result of scaly mites. You should apply the undiluted S76 to this area with a cotton bud one day each week for approximately 6-8 weeks. All the Best, Rob


Susan from Western North Carolina asks: I have three Gouldians, all about the same age, all male. The red face isn't puffy but his back feathers seem to be in disarray more often than not. He always smooths out when we approach the cage and does not act sick. Recently he dropped a number of his purple breast feathers, he looks a little spotty but no more feathers have been found in the cage or on the floor. Today I was watching him when he was preening and stretching and I swear he looked as if he was balding on his back when he moved his wing. Am I being paranoid? I want to catch any problem before it gets worse or spreads to the other two. The three of them get along very well so I don't think the others are doing it to him. Any opinion or advice is appreciated!
Hello Susan, Your red face Gouldian may be in the middle of his annual moult. In the last 6 weeks have you noticed any long wing feathers on the floor of the cage...one every couple of days? Just to be sure that it isn't quill mites, I would suggest that you check him out carefully using a magnifying glass. If you do not see any quill mites along the spine of his long feathers I would suspect that he is just molting. Be sure that all of the birds have a high quality diet during their molt and administer the S76 for 2 consecutive days every 3 weeks during the moulting period. All the Best, Rob


Claire Clarke from Utah, USA asks: Hi Dr. Rob, Do you have any information for finch Circovirus? I have a flock of about 65 Lady Gouldians that are possibly infected with this virus. I have been working with my avian vet to get a diagnosis and am still waiting. (the samples are at the pathologist) What I am wondering is there any treatment for this virus? The flock is kept for breeding purposes, and I know that the finches that survive will be carriers. Do I need to cull all of them and start over? And if so, how do I ensure that the premises will not re-infect any new birds? Or how do I know if any new birds carry the disease? Any info you have will be helpful. Thank you,
Claire, It would be best to wait for the histopathology report. My feeling is that it is more likely Polyomavirus. Let me have a look at the report for you. When you have the report, please send it to Laraine through this website. She will forward it to me. In the meantime I would put your entire flock on my full Moulting Programme especially the KD. All the Best, Rob

New Question

BACK TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE