FINCHforum

I have my first pair of gouldians and have a very basic question, please excuse my lack of knowledge! Could someone explain the molting process, what it is and how often it happens - thanks!

usually happens once a year and can take up to a couple of months from start to finish of the moult. basicly all it is is new feathers coming through which make the bird look like a porcupine or echidna.
remember not to purchase gouldians when they are going through a moult as the added stress of moving from one home to another can kill them

Check out this link it has some good info on gouldians
http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/ ... _finch.php

Many things can effect the moult. Diet, lighting, stress, stc. Keep them warn (no drafts) good diet maybe with some 'Feather Up' ( a vitamin suppliment) regular hours of light.
Sometimes when birds are caught for transport they can suffer fear moult. With good diet and care the birds will replace the feathers quickly.
Congrats on your new birds Gouldians are wonderful finches. What color do you have?

Agree with CondoA. Make sure to give them plenty of supplements and good diets. They need it during a molt, helps this stage to pass by quicker. Hope to see some pics soon.

Thanks for the info - it is very useful. The breeder said the female had just finished her moult when I got them. The male appears to be a yellow headed purple breasted normal and the hen a black headed normal. I would love them to breed from them but hear it is quite difficult, although apparently the male did rear a family last year. He is singing quite beautifully at the moment and both beaks suggest they are in breeding season although I have seen no mating behaviour yet. They are in with two female zebra finches and seem to get along well with them. I'll have to get my daughter to look at putting photos on, too advanced for me!!

If you want to breed them, you would be better off moving them to their own cage. The two Zebra hens will hog any nests you put in, and though they don't have mates, they will still lay eggs and steal nesting material. Gouldians aren't that hard to breed, you just have to meet their needs, which is true with all the species of finch. There is a lot of good information on breeding at the FIC, linked at left, plus Gouldian specific info under Species at the FIC.