Both birds will build the nest and they will need nesting materials such as soft hay, sisal, and coconut fiber. The nest boxes should be about 6"x 6"x 6" and mounted as high as possible. Provide them with either open or covered nests. They must be kept active to remain healthy.īreeding/Reproduction: Gouldian Finches breed readily both in colonies and as a pair in a cage. When you need to handle your finch to examine it or clip it's nails, place your palm on it's back and wrap your fingers around the bird with your thumb and forefinger on either side of it's head.Īctivities: Gouldian Finches are active and very energetic breeders. Handling/Training: Finches are simply enjoyed for their antics and play rather than training. If you wish to mix bird types, they do very well in aviaries with Zebra Finches and Society Finches. They are friendly with other finches and do well when kept in groups. Social Behaviors: Gouldian Finches are social and live in large groups all year long in the wild. Weekly, wash and dry the entire cage, including the perches. Every two to three days change the paper on the bottom of the cage and sprinkle it with about 1/8" of fresh grit. Basic cage care includes daily cleaning of the water and food dishes. Maintenance: Although finches require very little time, a clean environment as well as fresh food and water daily is a must to prevent disease and illness. Plants that are not poisonous, such as fruit trees, privet, forsythia, and honeysuckle bushes will make the space more enjoyable for the finches. Gouldian Finches may roost in nest boxes even when they are not breeding. Dishes for food, water, grit and bathing water must be included along with perches and a wide variety of nests. The screening should be 3/8" square mesh. In an outdoor aviary, they need protection from wind and rain. Place paper on the cage bottom that can be sprinkled with grit, or use a grit paper. Provide separate dishes for food, water, treats, and grit. Tree branches of a similar size also make good perches and will help to wear the claws down naturally. Provide two or three good softwood perches about 3/8" to 3/4" in diameter. The cage should have good lighting but be away from doors and windows where direct exposure to sunlight can make it overly warm. ![]() Place the cage where it is well ventilated and against a wall at eye level. Always keep the bird's area above 55 ° F, though they will do much better if the temperature is kept at 77 ° F or warmer. They cannot tolorate cold, dampness or drafts. A minimum of 24" in height is required because they fly up when first taking off. Provide a cage with good height as well as horizontal space. Housing: Gouldian Finches must be able to fly. We will gladly show you how or do it for you. If you are uncomfortable with this task, bring your bird to us. Bird nail trimmers and styptic powder to stop bleeding are available. ![]() You may occasionally need to trim their nails, but be careful never to clip into the vein as this could be deadly to your pet. A bath dish that is 1" deep with a 1/2" of water, or a clip on bath house is very important as they love to bathe. Give your Gouldian Finch a daily bath or as often as possible. ![]() The lime in the cuttlebone also aids in digestion. Provide a cuttlebone because the calcium it provides will give your bird a firm beak, strong eggshells when breeding, and will help prevent egg binding. Grit and charcoal are essential to aid in digestion and it contains valuable minerals and trace elements.Provide grit in a special cup or sprinkled over the bottom of the cage floor. Seed with honey and fruits and vegetables are fun for your bird too, as well as nutritious! Seperately, items such as lettuce, spinach, celery tops, and chickweed are good choices. Seed moistened with cod liver oil and powdered with yeast will provide a high fat protein and vitamin D. You can give them diced hard boiled eggs, egg biscuit or mealworms for added protien. Finches need a good protien supply, especially when they are molting or laying eggs. A good finch mix of seed and millets and is readily available here. Care and Feeding: Fresh food and water must be provided daily. Breeders have developed a variety of color mutations including the white breasted, yellow-headed, rose breasted, blue breasted, blue bodied, and white bodied.ĭistribution: Gouldian Finches are found in Queensland and Northern and Northwest Australia. The black-headed Gouldian is the most common in the wild, but about one out of four will have a red head and on a rare occasion, a yellow head. Normal males have purple breasts, yellow bellies, and green bodies. Description: Gouldian Finches are 5.5" - 6"(14 -15 cm) with the females being a bit smaller.
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