? Breeding v. Molting Mode in Gouldians

[GouldieFledge]

I know diet is very important to a finch's health and cycling. Like during these two stressful times (breeding and molting), you're essentially offering the same exact things: eggfood, calcium/minerals/eggshell, protein generally. So how do the birds know the difference? Like...how do the males and females know "oh it's molting time, gotta conserve my energy for that ordeal" from "wow, I can feel my hormones running rampant, I'm gonna start pumping that calcium/strutting my stuff"? If you have a mixed flight, how do you avoid the hens' beaks turning black and the males courting the hens (i.e. reproduction) when it should be molting time? Is it simply the lack of nests?

I could understand more if someone has an outdoor aviary, but since the majority of finches are housed indoors, I'm a little confused.

[debbie276]

Food triggers gouldians more then light. Also heat helps let them know what time it is. Mine also get excited when the spring rains come. I personally believe they should have fluctuations in their diet so it more resembles what they would have in nature. By no means should they suffer or go without but being fed a feast everyday isn't good for anything. The rest period is when they thin down and recuperate. A heavy bird is unhealthy and will have problems breeding.
For mine even inside the heat of spring triggers them to molt. During the winter after breeding I cut back the protein. I only offer eggs 2 to 3 times a week.
When they start molting I offer egg 4 or 5 times a week. By the end of their molt I am giving them eggs daily and adding all the other extras like fresh chickweed and dandelions. You have to stimulate is a time of plenty.
I don't remove any of my nest boxes and by the end of their molt I start adding fresh grass for nest building.
When breeding is over usually the end of December, I cut back on the egg again so their hormones decrease and they go into a rest period till spring.

You can trigger a molt by putting them on an austerity diet for 4 weeks but I don't find with mine that I need to go that far. Just cutting back on all the goodies seems to work for me. Keep in mind gouldians in the wild have 2 seasons, wet and dry. Lots of food and very little. The length of daylight changes very little between seasons (if I remember right by only 2 hours).

[GouldieFledge]

Thanks debbie276, this is super helpful.

[debbie276]

Your very welcome