FINCHforum

What do you guys believe is the best mix of seed types for keeping Gouldians healthy and happy during the (relatively mild) Sydney winter?

I have an opportunity to mix-and-match seeds, so I'd like to come up with the best mix I can for them.

Thanks

Stephanie wrote:What do you guys believe is the best mix of seed types for keeping Gouldians healthy and happy during the (relatively mild) Sydney winter?

I have an opportunity to mix-and-match seeds, so I'd like to come up with the best mix I can for them.

Thanks

I don't change my seed mix year round. They alwasy get the same. I buy it from ladygouldian website. I don't think it is necessary to change seed mix, just give them the extra things they need such as greens, millet,and egg food.

Mine are fed the same mix year round...a standard foreign finch mix.The only difference I make is to add 20% plain canary to this mix year round.
Paul.

We also feed ours the same seed year round, but we are not located in Gouldian native territory. . .

We use temperature, daylight, and humdity coupled with a reduction in protein to mimic the conditions Lady Gouldian Finches would have in their native Australia. We try try to mimic conditions in Australia with our Goullds.

There are several members of this forum from Austrsalia that should be chimming in a response to your post. If there are not, privately e-mail us, we provide you with Australian friends that are not members of this forum that can help you out.

Sean

Here in South Africa most of us change the seed mix in the off season. The reason is to reduce the amount of protein the goulds take in. Fairestfinches also mentioned something about that.

In winter we remove all Niger seeds from the mix and increase the amount of Red Manna while decreasing Plain Canary seeds and White manna.

I don't think it is absolutely necessary to change the mix but it's been working for other breeders around here so I thought I’ll give it a try. If you are interested I can post the off season and breeding season mix.

Whenever a question like this is asked you will always get conflicting answers from more experienced breeders.
It's got to be a case of 'Works for me' Some Gouldian breeders in the UK supply all manner of additives and diet variations depending on the time of year..moulting birds...breeding birds etc.
Each feel they have the 'magic' formula and in many cases they are very successful.
It's difficult to take in all the different advice and make sense out of it.I try to keep my birds diet as simple as possible...and as I said earlier 'it works for me' All you can do is note all the different advice and try to find a happy medium.Breeding birds is not an exact science,a lot depends on what conditions they are kept in.
What works for one will not work for another.
Paul.

Once again the poohbear is spot on! The purpose of this forum is so we can get advice and make an informed decision, meaning you still have to make up your own mind of what to do. We all want the best for our birds but have to stick to what has worked for us. If it does not work for you or in your specific situation don't do it and try something else that you are comfortable with.