FINCHforum

My two Lady Gouldians seem to be interested in their seed mix and occasionally some millet. I have had them for almost three weeks, and have been offering them plenty of other options, but the seed seems to be all they eat. They are just finishing molting, so I offer them egg food in the morning and every day I offer them some vegetable, fruit or combination. I have tried offering the fruit/veggie whole (a strawberry, mashed blueberries, a stalk of kale) or finely chopped with the food processor. I have tried mixing several fruits or veggies together or on their own. They still just keep eating the seed mix. I want to offer them a wide variety of food so they have a healthy diet with lots of vitamins and protein. They are still newish to me...maybe they are adjusting still? Any ideas?

Hmmm, it can be tough to get birds to try new foods. Maybe try a sprinkle of seed over their chopped veggie dish? the seed will encourage them to check it out, and maybe they'll get a taste of veggie when they try to eat the seed. don't give up! or, since they already like egg food, try mixing a little veggie in with that. my green singers don't like veggies in a dish, they prefer the whole hunk stuck to the side of the cage. my societies like applesauce, but not whole apple slices. some birds are just picky! if they've never had this kind of stuff before, they might too scared to try it.

I sprinkled seeds on the egg food + veggies.
And sooner or later they "tried it."
Some take longer than others to start eating, but I found that once one starts eating it, the other copy.

I had the same problem with my finches for the longest time. I find that establishing one recognizable (to them) dish for goodies seems to help. It's actually really cute these days - when they see me coming with that dish, they rush over like "Ooh, what did she bring us today?!"

I find with leafy type vegetables, they often just want the whole leaf (either on a clip or just in the center of the cage floor - in a clean spot - not under branches or perches, they'll just poop on it).

I would stick with just things that are bound to be a hit with them at first and then introduce more questionable things once they get used to receiving special foods in their special dish. I find the most common things they collectively eat as a group (all the species I keep) are hard boiled eggs, mineral/grit mixes/oyster shells/egg shells; or alfalfa sprouts. Also, sometimes spreading some special seed mix (you know the types that are kinda like gourmet seed blends and expensive!). You don't have to use a lot but just a bit so that they are enticed to that dish a little quicker. There's a brand called Higgins that sells all sorts of finch foods that are called "Snack Attack". There's one in particular called Fruit & Veggies (I think) that they really enjoy.

Good luck! I'm sure with time they will start checking things out. They probably weren't having much other than seed before you got them.

Hi I have found gouldians to be dumb when coming to new foods. They seem to only go for what they know and aren't interested in trying new foods. When purchasing new birds one of the many questions I ask is what have they been eating in the past so I have a rough idea what they will take. You have had them for only 3weeks so adjusting to new surroundings they will only eat what they are familiar with and going through a moult at this time is another reason why they maybe just sticking to comfort foods. What I have done in the past to my birds is the same as most other posts, sprinkle a little seed on the dish (I use nyger). Another way is using greedy birds like a Canary or parrot finch as a trainer and in most cases it only takes a week before the gouldians will try something new. My gouldians aren't the biggest eater of foods other than seed but what two foods they will attack with delight is Green leafy foods and milk seed, just hang them on the wire next to a perch full leaf and mine devour them.