Is this enough for my Gouldians?

kiwi & mango · Post by **kiwi & mango** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 5:30 pm

I have a male and female and they eat very well but think I might do better. They are on seed food, egg food and they LOVE brocolie and get that sprinkled on top of the egg food, which they both love. I place powdered vitamins in with their seed. They also get millet for a treat once or twice a week.

Now I have tried, carrots, apple, cucumbers and they will not even try them.

My question is this enought? or can I do better? and if so give me links to what you would advice so I can add it to my list when I go shopping this wek for more seed. I am thinking about switching to pellets.

thanks guys and gals....

TammyS · Post by **TammyS** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 6:43 pm

I think that you have a good diet for your birds - covers all the basics: a good seed mixture, eggfood/softfood, vitamin and fresh veggies (keep trying with the others veggies, they might try them eventually).

There is a number of additional items you "could" feed to your birds. The question is - do you really need to? If your birds look good and are happy and healthy - then no, I don't think it is necessary. If you "want" to provide more variety for your birds there is a number of things you could add. It just depends how complicated you want to make it on yourself. I see some people who are new to birds and think they need to give all these different foods/supplements to their birds - and they get overwhelmed or find it to be to much work.

They only thing I would recommend is if you are going to breed your birds, I would recommend a good calcium source. You can use eggshells, cuttlebone, oyster shell or a calcium supplement.

Post by **Sally** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 10:47 pm

How about some iodine, since they are Gouldians? Liquid or powdered kelp would work. I do both, but it is not necessary to do both. The powdered kelp can be offered free choice in a treat cup, so you don't even have to think about it. Don't worry about the veggies, Gouldians are notoriously picky eaters--just keep trying, as Tammy said. Mine like romaine, and I'm trying turnip greens, as someone on another forum does for his finches. Tammy is right, it can turn into a full-time job supplying all this stuff for our finches, and it really isn't always necessary. You have a good diet already.

kiwi & mango · Post by **kiwi & mango** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 11:05 am

I will try the iodine or kelp as well. I have a cuttlebone but it is hardly used at all. As far as the as shells I placed in once after I had boiled some eggs and they didn't even go near it. After about 20 min. I took them out and crushed them smaller and placed them in a bowl with some piece of millet and still they went in and ate all the millet and left the egg shell....funny birds

I did think they would like apple since most birds wild or not would eat apples but no.....

I even bought a different typ then our family enjoys hoping that the smell and taste is all that they need. Time will tell.

thanks again I always like to hear some suggestions of how to get them to eat better or healthier.

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:02 am

I have many different species and my gouldian is one of the pickiest. Although since I have him in a big flight w/ many other species, he does go down and check out new foods b/c of the other's examples. My societies will eat pretty much anything. I have found that societies are the best eaters when it comes to diversity.... although zebras (from what I have noticed) are my only finches that use the cuttlebone a lot!

Just try to put vitamins in the seed and make sure you have a great seed mix since they will eat that. I just purchase the ABBA 1900 from justbirdstuff.com and my finches love it! I continue to try and find the best/fresh seed possible.

I have also found a new food that most of my finches love, and it is a food made for humans... not birds. But it is extremely healthy! It is an oat/sprout cereal called Ezekial 4:9, it is in the brown box... I feed them the original brand, it is really good for humans too... but very bland. Here is the website:

http://www.foodforlife.com/

You can buy it at wholefoods and it is cheap considering how long it'll last.

rottielover · Post by **rottielover** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 12:44 pm

I've found that lazyness is a powerful tool when used on animals

Here's what I mean...

When offering new foods to the Gouldians, I place the "normal food" low in the cage, in dishes or cups on the cage floor. The new food I want them to try out is then placed in cups or clips in the middle or tword the top of the cage.

That's how I was finally able to get them converted over to a pelletted diet. I'm sure the same technique would work with new fruits and veggies. May take a while, but eventually the birds will investigate the new foods and sample them, and that's the ultimate goal. Birds seem to be like small children, they are certian they hate some food until they actually try it.

kiwi & mango · Post by **kiwi & mango** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:30 pm

I think I will try somthing like that tomorrow when I clean the bottom of the cage. I will keep their seed out for a few hours and have just the fruit in a cup with some millet as well....I think that might get them a little interested in the fruit.
I think I will try apples and oranges first..... just like kids stick to the bases...