Origins
The Lady Gouldian resides in the tropical parts of northern Australia. They are currently endangered in the wild due to loss of natural habitat as well as an infestation of air sac mites in the wild. Sexing
Regardless of the mutation you choose, all are fairly easy to sex. The males have much brighter colours both on chest and belly.
Size
5 ½ inches. 12 - 14 cm.
Character
Gouldians can be kept in pairs or colonies. The gouldian is a peaceful bird that does well in a mixed flight.
The Lady Gouldian resides in the tropical parts of northern Australia. They are currently endangered in the wild due to loss of natural habitat as well as an infestation of air sac mites in the wild. Sexing
Regardless of the mutation you choose, all are fairly easy to sex. The males have much brighter colours both on chest and belly.
Size
5 ½ inches. 12 - 14 cm.
Character
Gouldians can be kept in pairs or colonies. The gouldian is a peaceful bird that does well in a mixed flight.
Sexing Gouldians
Gouldian finches are sexually dimorphic, meaning that the males can be distinguished from the females visually. Typically, the male is the more vibrantly colored or more elaborately marked of the two sexes.
The hen is paler than the cock overall: the color of her back, breast,* and abdomen is less intense, and she has very little if any blue border around her mask. (*A lilac-breasted male may have a pale chest color like that seen in a normal hen, but in birds lacking this mutation, the purple color of the cock's breast is far more intense than that of the hen.) If the hen is yellow or red headed, she will likely have far more black feathering in her mask than the cock, who only has a thin black border around his mask. When in breeding condition, the hen's beak will become black (or red or yellow if she is yellow bodied). The cock generally has more vivid coloration on his back and abdomen, and has a larger blue border around his mask than the hen. When in breeding condition, the tip of his beak will become bright red or yellow. Although both cocks and hens can make simple shrill calling noises, ONLY cocks can sing.
The hen is paler than the cock overall: the color of her back, breast,* and abdomen is less intense, and she has very little if any blue border around her mask. (*A lilac-breasted male may have a pale chest color like that seen in a normal hen, but in birds lacking this mutation, the purple color of the cock's breast is far more intense than that of the hen.) If the hen is yellow or red headed, she will likely have far more black feathering in her mask than the cock, who only has a thin black border around his mask. When in breeding condition, the hen's beak will become black (or red or yellow if she is yellow bodied). The cock generally has more vivid coloration on his back and abdomen, and has a larger blue border around his mask than the hen. When in breeding condition, the tip of his beak will become bright red or yellow. Although both cocks and hens can make simple shrill calling noises, ONLY cocks can sing.
Notice how the cock (left) has more vibrant and more extensive coloring than the paler, less well-marked hen (right).
Gouldian Life Cycle
Clutch size:3-8 eggs (4-6 most common)
Incubation date:After all eggs are laid (some pairs begin incubating after 3 eggs)
Hatch date:After 14-16 days of incubation
Fledge date:At 20 days of age Wean date:6 weeks of age
Begin molt:8-10 weeks of age
Complete molt:5-6 months of age (sometimes as early as 14-16 weeks)
Sexual maturity:Although Gouldians may become sexually mature before they obtain their adult plumage, many breeders recommend waiting until the birds are at least 6-9 months of age before breeding them
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Incubation date:After all eggs are laid (some pairs begin incubating after 3 eggs)
Hatch date:After 14-16 days of incubation
Fledge date:At 20 days of age Wean date:6 weeks of age
Begin molt:8-10 weeks of age
Complete molt:5-6 months of age (sometimes as early as 14-16 weeks)
Sexual maturity:Although Gouldians may become sexually mature before they obtain their adult plumage, many breeders recommend waiting until the birds are at least 6-9 months of age before breeding them
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BASIC DIET
Balanced diets are only achieved by offering a variety of foods. Remember that a Gouldian's diet in the wild is whatever is available. Including grubs the spring, berries in summer, buds of flowering trees in Autumn and all manner of readily available mineral rich earths.
SEED
The staple seed for these birds is canary, white millet, and small yellow millet or panicum all of which are available in any good quality 'Foreign Finch Mix'. You can keep them and raise young on this diet alone together with water. However under these conditions fewer young will be raised and the mortality rate of both juveniles and adults will be high.
Some fanciers like to provide each kind of seed in a separate container but it is rarely possible to buy separate seed types in your local pet supplies outlet and sending away for such small quantities as would be necessary for a single pair is far from ideal. It is just as satisfactory to supply the seeds ready mized in equal parts, as would be found in most good foreign finch mixes, you can tell at a glance which types are in too large or too small quantities by the kind that is left in the seed tray or feeder. If, after the birds have been eating for a couple of days, the combination in the tray appears the same as was originally mixed, then you have correct proportions to your bird's satisfaction.
Gouldians are very fond of grass seeds that are in the milk stage (this is the phrase that describes the stage when a seed has just ripened or semi ripe). Almost any kind of grass seed is good for example, rye, winter grass, water grass, millet, etc.
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CHARCOAL
Charcoal is a very good digestion balancer, which Gouldians will naturally find in their wild habitat from forest or brush fires, camp fires, etc. Charcoal contains properties which can neutralise excess acids and so help Gouldians to balance their digestive system - an avian 'Rennie if you like! This should always be available in a separate dish, the birds will use very small quantities of this frequently, many people have removed it altogether thinking that none is being used only to find the bird gorging on it when a new supply is forthcoming.
SOAKED SEED
Germinated seed is greatly relished by Gouldians. This is another valuable food. In seed that has germinated the starches have largely converted to sugar and the vitamin content has increased many times. About one tablespoon of germinated seed a day is ample for half a dozen birds.
The simplest way of sprouting seed is to soak some of your regular finch mix in water for 12 to 24 hours. Then rinse it thoroughly, drain off the water, and leave it moist in a glass or clear plastic container in a reasonably warm locality for 3 or 4 days, making sure that plenty of oxygen is allowed to circulate. Sunlight through the glass will help create ideal conditions and speed the germination. It is ready to feed when the small rootlet begins to emerge from the end of tile seed, it should of course be thoroughly rinsed again with fresh water before being given to the birds. As a safe guard against soak seed fouling many keepers use a small drop of bleach (unperfumed, additive free), or AviClens™ in the water to kill of any unwanted bacteria.
LIVE FOOD
Although the majority of Gouldian Finch keepers do not advocate the necessity of Live Food, it remains that though not essential many birds do enjoy the occasional 'bite'. Usually in the form of a few fresh skinned mealworms. Getting Gouldians to take mealies is not always easily achieved but if housed with other more gregarious birds such as canaries they will often follow suit and tuck into the protein rich 'mealies' without hesitation, which will certainly do no harm and will if anything add essential variety. They do not need live food in captivity.
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DIET CHANGES
Gouldians are quite sensitive to sudden changes in diet and it has been known for them to starve to death in a cage with a bowl full of food just because they were not familiar with what was offered. Always check when purchasing new birds what diet they have been used to, if possible take some home with you and wean them onto your mix over the next few days.
SALT / MINERALS
Salt and minerals should also be provided, usually in the form of a salt lick or iodine block, available from most pet outlets.
Finely ground oyster shell, sterilized ground egg shell, or cuttlefish bone and ground feed quality bone meal are always required. These can be mixed and supplied in the same dish as the charcoal.
Grit or gravel has become a contentious issue amongst many keepers as to its worthiness. It is a digestive aid, which serves to grind the food in the gizzard but some believe that in captive species such as the Gouldian it can also cause an impaction or erosion of the Gizzard, which can be potentially fatal. Soft Bird sand is a good alternative as it is made up of many rounded minerals less likely to cause abrasion and often comes with added beneficial oyster shell.
GREENS
Greens are a valuable and rewarding addition to your bird's diet. Greens have the reputation of causing diarrhoea, which is a misunderstanding, but they will affect the character of your birds poop. Greens are bulky foods that pass through the digestive tract rapidly, causing a soft green stool. Greens are high in water, adding fluid to the body. More urine is produced which adds to the fluidity of the droppings. Birds at first may over eat greens, but if fed consistently, whilst making up no more than 20% of their overall diet, they will have. When feeding any type of fresh food, make sure to thoroughly wash the food before giving it to the bird. This removes any soil bacteria or contaminants which could be harmful to your bird.
SUITABLE GREENS
Leaf lettuce (grated), Dandelion (young leaves, flower heads), Endive Chickweed, Celery (grated), Spinach(cooked and chopped), Kale (grated or left in leaf to pick at), Mustard greens.
SUPPLEMENTS
There are many bird supplements now available in through most pet suppliers, including multivitamins, iodine mixes, calcium tonics, moulting tonics and yeast derivatives. Gouldians certainly do require their fair share of vitamins and although many of these are sufficiently catered for in a good balanced diet many experienced keepers do like to support their birds diets with these top ups, some even swear by them. Always read the bottle and never exceed the recommended dosage.
WATER
Gouldian Finches require clean fresh water supplied at ALL times, changed daily. Tap water contains many additives to make sure it is perfectly safe for us humans but this is not so beneficial to Gouldians and it would be advised for those keepers living in hard water areas to filter their tap water, or at very least pour into a glass container and leave to stand in a cool dark area for 24 - 48 hours. This allows many heavy particles and chlorine to sink or neutralise.
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SEED
The staple seed for these birds is canary, white millet, and small yellow millet or panicum all of which are available in any good quality 'Foreign Finch Mix'. You can keep them and raise young on this diet alone together with water. However under these conditions fewer young will be raised and the mortality rate of both juveniles and adults will be high.
Some fanciers like to provide each kind of seed in a separate container but it is rarely possible to buy separate seed types in your local pet supplies outlet and sending away for such small quantities as would be necessary for a single pair is far from ideal. It is just as satisfactory to supply the seeds ready mized in equal parts, as would be found in most good foreign finch mixes, you can tell at a glance which types are in too large or too small quantities by the kind that is left in the seed tray or feeder. If, after the birds have been eating for a couple of days, the combination in the tray appears the same as was originally mixed, then you have correct proportions to your bird's satisfaction.
Gouldians are very fond of grass seeds that are in the milk stage (this is the phrase that describes the stage when a seed has just ripened or semi ripe). Almost any kind of grass seed is good for example, rye, winter grass, water grass, millet, etc.
**** Click Here to Buy Gouldian Finches from AVR pets - Click Here ****
CHARCOAL
Charcoal is a very good digestion balancer, which Gouldians will naturally find in their wild habitat from forest or brush fires, camp fires, etc. Charcoal contains properties which can neutralise excess acids and so help Gouldians to balance their digestive system - an avian 'Rennie if you like! This should always be available in a separate dish, the birds will use very small quantities of this frequently, many people have removed it altogether thinking that none is being used only to find the bird gorging on it when a new supply is forthcoming.
SOAKED SEED
Germinated seed is greatly relished by Gouldians. This is another valuable food. In seed that has germinated the starches have largely converted to sugar and the vitamin content has increased many times. About one tablespoon of germinated seed a day is ample for half a dozen birds.
The simplest way of sprouting seed is to soak some of your regular finch mix in water for 12 to 24 hours. Then rinse it thoroughly, drain off the water, and leave it moist in a glass or clear plastic container in a reasonably warm locality for 3 or 4 days, making sure that plenty of oxygen is allowed to circulate. Sunlight through the glass will help create ideal conditions and speed the germination. It is ready to feed when the small rootlet begins to emerge from the end of tile seed, it should of course be thoroughly rinsed again with fresh water before being given to the birds. As a safe guard against soak seed fouling many keepers use a small drop of bleach (unperfumed, additive free), or AviClens™ in the water to kill of any unwanted bacteria.
LIVE FOOD
Although the majority of Gouldian Finch keepers do not advocate the necessity of Live Food, it remains that though not essential many birds do enjoy the occasional 'bite'. Usually in the form of a few fresh skinned mealworms. Getting Gouldians to take mealies is not always easily achieved but if housed with other more gregarious birds such as canaries they will often follow suit and tuck into the protein rich 'mealies' without hesitation, which will certainly do no harm and will if anything add essential variety. They do not need live food in captivity.
**** Click Here to Buy Gouldian Finches from AVR pets - Click Here ****
DIET CHANGES
Gouldians are quite sensitive to sudden changes in diet and it has been known for them to starve to death in a cage with a bowl full of food just because they were not familiar with what was offered. Always check when purchasing new birds what diet they have been used to, if possible take some home with you and wean them onto your mix over the next few days.
SALT / MINERALS
Salt and minerals should also be provided, usually in the form of a salt lick or iodine block, available from most pet outlets.
Finely ground oyster shell, sterilized ground egg shell, or cuttlefish bone and ground feed quality bone meal are always required. These can be mixed and supplied in the same dish as the charcoal.
Grit or gravel has become a contentious issue amongst many keepers as to its worthiness. It is a digestive aid, which serves to grind the food in the gizzard but some believe that in captive species such as the Gouldian it can also cause an impaction or erosion of the Gizzard, which can be potentially fatal. Soft Bird sand is a good alternative as it is made up of many rounded minerals less likely to cause abrasion and often comes with added beneficial oyster shell.
GREENS
Greens are a valuable and rewarding addition to your bird's diet. Greens have the reputation of causing diarrhoea, which is a misunderstanding, but they will affect the character of your birds poop. Greens are bulky foods that pass through the digestive tract rapidly, causing a soft green stool. Greens are high in water, adding fluid to the body. More urine is produced which adds to the fluidity of the droppings. Birds at first may over eat greens, but if fed consistently, whilst making up no more than 20% of their overall diet, they will have. When feeding any type of fresh food, make sure to thoroughly wash the food before giving it to the bird. This removes any soil bacteria or contaminants which could be harmful to your bird.
SUITABLE GREENS
Leaf lettuce (grated), Dandelion (young leaves, flower heads), Endive Chickweed, Celery (grated), Spinach(cooked and chopped), Kale (grated or left in leaf to pick at), Mustard greens.
SUPPLEMENTS
There are many bird supplements now available in through most pet suppliers, including multivitamins, iodine mixes, calcium tonics, moulting tonics and yeast derivatives. Gouldians certainly do require their fair share of vitamins and although many of these are sufficiently catered for in a good balanced diet many experienced keepers do like to support their birds diets with these top ups, some even swear by them. Always read the bottle and never exceed the recommended dosage.
WATER
Gouldian Finches require clean fresh water supplied at ALL times, changed daily. Tap water contains many additives to make sure it is perfectly safe for us humans but this is not so beneficial to Gouldians and it would be advised for those keepers living in hard water areas to filter their tap water, or at very least pour into a glass container and leave to stand in a cool dark area for 24 - 48 hours. This allows many heavy particles and chlorine to sink or neutralise.
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