Diet for my Goulds

ShaneW · Post by **ShaneW** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:04 am

I'm new to keeping birds, only got a pair of goulds last week and want to eventually breed with them.

Ive been doing lots of reading and am finding conflicting advise everywhere.
Please you advise me as to what I should be feeding them.

Ive read about grit, charcoal, eggshells, fruit and veg, seeds, etc and am a bit confused as to what they need and in what quantities to keep them in a healthy as possible condition.

Thanks

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 8:05 am

A good quality foreign finch mix and the occassional millet spray.The grit mix you mention all the time.Greens and eggfood a couple of times a week.
Seaweed extract to provide a source of iodine once a week (It is made in your country another member may remember the link for you)
You may find some birds are fussy when it comes to the eggfood.

That's what I give...but you will find others do different

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 3:48 pm

For Goulds as with most finches you have to be specific when you talk about grit. Most finches do not need grit as we call it here in the US. Grit in the US is mostly sand and for finches can cause impacted crops. If memory serves me correctly what you are calling grit is powdered oyster shell? If you offer them "grit" make sure that you offer them some form of powdered calcium, and not the sandy grit.

Sean

kittani79 · Post by **kittani79** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:27 pm

I have several food dishes in the cage. One has seed mix, one has oyster shell grit mixed in with crushed eggshells, one has a kelp powder which oddly enough my female loves. I change the food daily, but unless someone poops in the others I leave them til they get low. I give millet spray not daily but maybe 2-3 times a week. Eggfood they get....well, ideally also 2-3 times a week but honestly it's whenever I remember and feel like cooking them an egg

My gouldians seem happy with this assortment and I actually had to take the nest box out to give them a break.

ShaneW · Post by **ShaneW** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 2:25 am

Thanks guys

I live in a smallish town in south africa so its not easy finding things like grit and vitamins as well as things like japanese millet, etc.
Ill have a look for some calcium based grit around here, otherwise ill make some of my own following the 'my cheap gritmix' thread.

Kittani, I see you didn't mention anything about fruit and veg, which of these do you recommend. I gave them some carrot and spinach which I think they ate.

franny · Post by **franny** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:23 pm

A lot of folks mix a bit of veggies (especially grated carrot and broccoli florets chopped fine) with the eggfood. Encourages them to try it. Also means fewer serving dishes to remember to remove after 3 hours or so (before it spoils), and fewer to clean.

Post by **Sally** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 2:58 pm

I get my oystershell grit at the feed store. It is sold there for poultry. I grind it up smaller in a coffee grinder. I had to buy a 40lb. bag, which will last forever, but I was in another feed store recently that made up smaller bags of the oystershell grit.

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 4:02 pm

If you have easier access to eggs you can use egg shell instead of the oyster shell. They both contain similar amounts of calcium, which is the primary reason to offer it.

Sean

kittani79 · Post by **kittani79** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:32 pm

I occasionally mix bits of broccoli, romaine lettuce, whatever's lying around in with the eggfood. Only thing to avoid is avocado, as it is apparently toxic to birds.

Unfortunately, I have not been blessed with adventurous gouldians. They generally eat around the veggies and give me dirty looks for trying to poison them for the rest of the day. Maybe someday, I still try sometimes

.

ShaneW · Post by **ShaneW** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 8:46 am

I made them an eggfood mix today.

Mixed a soft-food mix with the calcium/phosphorous supplement with some grated egg, carrots and cucumber.

They have stopped eating... 3hours later! I actually feel bad for not giving this to them earlier.
I also nuked some eggs shells and grated some cuttlebone for their grit mix.

Now all Im missing is some charcoal and an iodine supplement.

Thanks for everyone input... my birdies and I appreciate it.

bonnies_gouldians · Post by **bonnies_gouldians** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 5:09 pm

Stay away from spinach if you can help it. It is a calcium binder and will not allow your birds to absorb the needed calcium.