FINCHforum

Hi All,

Just wondering if those who keep Gouldians have a problem with them not bathing. I've tried a few different baths for them and they won't go near them. They haven't been wet since I got them and I'm concerned. What are your thoughts and if they don't take baths on their own do you spray them?


I'm almost tempted to put a few societies in with them to see how it's done
Thanks,
Renee

A bird knows if it gets wet it can't escape a predator so easily.I've always thought with gouldians there was something in their make up that made them wary of bathing.Over the years many of mine would bathe when the bath first appeared,then ignore it completely.
After 50 years of keeping gouldians I've never noticed any harm coming to the birds that don't bathe.Lets face it the common house sparrow would rather have a dust bath.

Thanks Poohbear It's a shame that they'd be wary because watching my societies, they seem to enjoy it so much. I know with larger birds they say to spray them with a water bottle. I really rather not with the finches if I don't have to. I feel they will get spooked. I do spray my cockatiel sometimes, especially in the summer and my husband brings him in the shower sometimes, lol! He enjoys it though.

Renee

I sprayed my Gouldians with a spray bottle last summer, when it was so hot. They wouldn't bathe, so I thought this would be a good thing, but I think I scared them more than made them feel better! My Gouldians never bathe as much as my other species, must be a Gouldian thing--they love to stand on the side of the dish and pretend they are taking a bath, go thru all the motions without ever actually getting wet. If it works for them, who am I to question it.

Somebody forgot to tell my gouldians that they are gouldians. They break all the rules.
Mine do bathe. They will get into the "swimming pool" with all the others and take a bath. I really think they have learned from the other birds in my aviary. They used to sit on the sides and watch and enjoy the water spraying up on them. Now they get in. Even the juvies bathe.

You're right, Donna. Last year, when I had some Gouldians that were fostered by Societies, they learned to bathe from their foster parents, and even when separated, they continued to enjoy their baths.

Renee,i have a pair of stars in with one pair of gouldians.The stars bathe two to three times a day.The gouldians stand on the bath tub and just stick there heads in.They wont get in the tub like the stars do,tom.

I tried regular bird baths, and a dish on the floor of the cage and my goudians would not bathe in either.

However once I put a hanging cup of water on the side, they love to get in and have a splash every day.

hmm, haven't tried that yet. Well looks like the consensus is not many Gouldians like to bath. Seems they are more inclined to at least try it when they are in a Aviary setting or housed with other birds who bath.

Interesting. Thanks all.

Renee

only two of my gouldians will bath in water the rest prefer to have a dust bath like a chicken or quail does

Good info, thanks for starting this thread...I have had my pair of Gouldies for almost a week, and, like the previous owner warned me, these birds do not like the water...At All!! She told me she sprayed them once and they hated it (I take that to mean they freaked) so I will not attempt the same....

I have two that loves to bath too. But the other ones won't even get close. I think its just a getting use to kinda thing. If they see someone jump in it and follow and find out how fun it is. That's the only way they would do it again. Otherwise no.

We have two (male/female) and the dont like to bath anywhere near as much as the zebs and socities!

maybe if the bath water is hidden like in plants or something where they have privicy they might bath more often.

james

I think Gouldian must learn how to take a bath, and when they try it, they'll like it. Usually the juvies can learn from societies and zebras, but if they dont, try to put a salad leaf with a little bit of water still on the surface of it on the ground, Gouldians will soon taking bath of that small amount of water. I tried this method before ( for budgies and Gouldians)and it worked well