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THE LADY GOULDIAN FINCH
OUNCE FOR OUNCE
YOU CAN NOT FIND A MORE COLORFUL BIRD
(click on photo to enlarge)
Considering buying a Gouldian Finch?
What you need to know....
#1 BUY A CLOSE BANDED FINCH
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Reputable breeders
will place a closed band on the birds leg.
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This band can only
be placed on the bird between 7-12 days of age.
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After the 12th day
the band will not fit over the foot of the bird.
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The band is marked
with either the breeders initials or a bird clubs initial.
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This band will
also contain the year in which the bird was bred i.e. ('06, '07), thus
assuring the age of the bird.
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It will also
contain a number which is traceable back to the breeder of the bird.
This is important especially if you plan to breed the Gouldian as this
number can indicate if there is a relationship to the mate i.e.
(brother-sister) which is not recommended.
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 #2 BUY A HEALTHY BIRD
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It is said that a
sick finch is a dead finch.
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First check the
cage that the bird is housed in, is it clean? Does the bird have fresh water
and seed? Or is the cage dirty and the bird is housed with other
miscellaneous birds, or over crowded?
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Check the birds
eyes for a brightness and shine. Dull, glazed or weeping eyes are not
a good sign.
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Check the feathers
for neatness and shine.
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Are the birds
nails trimmed, do they have scales or fungus on them?
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 #3 BUY FROM A REPUTABLE
BREEDER
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Do you know who
the person that is selling you your Gouldian?
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Have you heard
positive stories from others that have bought their finches?
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Will they be there
to help you if you have a problem with the bird or need information on
breeding the bird?
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Someone who is
selling Gouldian's that they just picked-up at the quarantine station have
no history of these birds and may lack the information needed to assure a
healthy long life for your pet or breeding stock that you are investing in.
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If you plan to
breed your Gouldian you need to know if the bird was parent raised or raised
under "foster" birds (usually Society Finches).
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 #4 CARE FOR
YOUR GOULDIAN FINCH
| A good finch seed diet is primary, buy fresh seed
from a seed distributor or from your local pet store. If you must
buy pre-packaged seed be sure to check the expiration date. |
| Provide fresh cuttle bone. |
| Gouldian Finches need iodine, I provide dry kelp ground
up with Roudybush Pellets and cuttle bone but Liquid Kelp supplements will
also work fine. |
| Fresh water, like most birds you need to provide fresh
water and more important is that you wash the drinking vessel out with
soap and water and rinse thoroughly. |
| Gouldian's don't need a tremendous amount of room in a
cage but don't overcrowd them. If you are placing them in an aviary
make sure they are compatible with the other birds first. They are a
peaceful bird and get along well with canaries and most other non-aggressive
finches. I don't recommend you place them with Zebra Finches or
Weavers. |
| I recommend an indoor aviary and my temperatures range
from 55f degrees low in the winter to 85f degrees of heat in the summer.
If you are placing them in an outdoor aviary, late August to early
September might be best to provide enough time to acclimate to the
outdoors before cold weather. |
 #4 POSSIBLE
DANGERS TO YOUR FINCH
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