FINCHforum

I have an adult and a juvenile Gouldian. I believe the younger one needs more eggfood than the adult one. The eggfood container is there all the time..... Is there a problem with that? They both eat well; sprouted seeds and vegetables.... and egg shels.

Louys

How old is your juvie? Has he molted into adult colours yet?

If the younger bird is finished it's juvenile molt into adult colours, then twice a week, should be sufficient. If the youngster is premolt, then I would offer eggs more often. It shouldn't hurt your adult bird.

Agree completely with Elana.

Sally and lovezebs thank you.
My juvenile is slowly molting......the wings are getting blue-ish colour....
Is there a way of telling if it is he or she from the behaviour. It definitely make different sounds from my adult male.
Coming back to the eggfoodtopic, is there a problem if they both have access to it every day? They seem to eat everything else well.

Louys

As mentioned above, there shouldn't be a problem with eating small amounts of hard boiled eggs on a daily basis. Eggs, are a wonderful source of protein for your birds.

Once your juvie has finished the juvenile molt, I would serve eggs twice a week (until your adult goes into molt, at which point I would go back to daily servings).

When you speak of the two birds making different sounds, are they both singing?
Usually male Gouldians will have fairly similar songs, and they will sit together and sing to each other quite often. Young males, will practice their song, even before they get their adult colours, so that's a good way to defferentiate between males and females. Females, do not sing, they make a 'chipp' sound.

lovezebs The male is singing and the juvenile is making sharp double or triple chipp sounds. Almost like wistle sounds.... never sings. Does this mean it is a female ?.... I would like that
Also Elana, how many birds will live comphortably in my cage 30x18x18 ?
I was thinking of getting another couple and/or a canary.
Thanks for all your help,
Lilith

Louys

Hi Lilith,

Your juvie, may be a girl.
To be absolutely certain, you'll have to wait until the youngster gets it's adult colours .

Do you happen to have any current pictures?

Regarding placing more birds into a 30x18x18.....
Honestly I wouldn't put another pair in there. Nor would I add a Canary into the picture. This small flight, is appropriate for two finches.

lovezebs
So no more birds then..... If I get a canary.... for the singing, I should put him in separate cage. Won't he get lonely?

Louys

I have a male canary, and he is very happy being in a cage all by himself

Louys

Male Canaries, tend to do well on their own.
However, I would never put him in one of those silly cages that they sell in the Pet Shops (for Canaries ).

Canaries, enjoy flying , like any other bird, and need the space to do so.

If at some point in time you decide to get a large flight, then Canary and Gouldians, can be housed together.

In my mixed cage of adults and juveniles going through their adult molt, I give them egg+veggies 3x a week. I figure that is a reasonable balance. I don't want the adults on too much egg, as I want to hold that off till they are set up for mating.