Keeping some male gouldians without breeding

[star]

I have some pairs of gouldians that I will breed , but was wondering if anyone keeps a cage of all male gouldians and does not breed them.

I want to keep one cage with all males and not breed them.

I would like to know if they become unhappy not being able to breed. Would it affect their health physically or emotionally, and would they live as long.

If any one has answers I would love to hear from you. I would especially like to hear from someone who does keep all male gouldians and not breed them.

[dfcauley]

I personally do not do this, but I have often visited an aviary in an Atlanta hospital that houses ONLY males. There at lots of gouldians in there of many different colors. It is a mixed aviary with other species, but all the birds appear to be very happy and active. They have lots of things in there for the finches and they appear to be quite entertained.

Personally... I think the key to a bird being happy if to change up their enviroment often. I can go into my aviary and move something around as small as putting a fern in a different place and they all go bananas..... It will suddenly become covered up with birds exploring. I think if you offer some kind of changes to their surrounds to keep them interested they will be fine. There would be nothing more beautiful than a groups of male gouldians all together IMO.

[debbie276]

I have many people buy males only from me when they're not interested in breeding. I also have a client that sets up aviaries in offices and nursing homes that buys males only for the color and the song. They all do very well. One woman has had the same male only group for over 7 years now.

[ac12]

If I'm not breeding them, I keep my males and females in their own community cage. They seem to do fine by themselves.

BUT, if the male sees a female in another cage...the hormones start to flow and he gets aggitated. Flys back and forth and hangs on the cage, trying to get to the hens. So as long as there isn't a mating trigger, things should be fine.

[KNG5]

I am trying something new, and have my male and female gouldians separated in large flight cages when they aren't breeding. They seem to be fine. The males will still sing and dance for each other anyway. It's better for the females I think, because the males won't force them into breeding mode.
Katie

[L in Ontario]

I do the same as Katie - keep the males and females separate outside of the breeding season. It gives them both a much needed break.

[lovemyfinch]

As everyone knows, mine go to the mixed aviary when their season is done. Seems to be working. About 2 weeks ago I swapped out my male "Cheerio" and put in young one "Patience" to find out if my yellow hen was a hen or a cock I finally think that I discovered why nothing was going on, "Cheerio" was ready to molt. It took him 3 days to start and 2 weeks later he is as ugly as sin (expression ladies - he is still handsome, just mostly white). So it doesn't seem like the hens are stimulating my males, as soon as I remove them from the nests they start. Then again, maybe have just been lucky.