FINCHforum

It looks as though breeding season is over for most of my Gouldians.
I ordered the Austerity diet to induce molting for two weeks. The diet consists of very little different type of seeds. Do I not worry about them eating it? Don't want to starve them.

That's the whole point of an austerity diet...low protein. Though you should introduce the diet gradually. Mix half and half at first for a week or so then gradually decrease the regular diet with the austerity diet. You should never change diet abruptly.
The seed diet resembles what the bird would have in the wild at that time of year so this induces the moult. Come spring milk seed(in the green state) is high in protein along with the emerging bugs of spring and plentiful rain and humidity encourages breeding.

Thanks Candace, the main difference between the austerity diet and breeding diet is just way less Canary seed. Some of my Gouldians eat the Canary, some dislike it.

When I put my birds on the Birds R Us Austerity Mix, I was concerned about this too. I did not do any slow introduction of the mix - just threw them right in on it. I noticed they ate some seeds, and not others, and I was definitely concerned they might not be getting ENOUGH food. I also observed they changed physically (not molting, though) in terms of looking a bit fluffed, and I was concerned that maybe they were not getting enough food. I consulted with Bill (and also asked him what I should do if the birds did not begin a molt at or before the end of the two week period), and this was his response to me:

"Tiffany,

If no molt evident at the end of two weeks, move them to maintenance diet after two weeks. The molt should show within another week or two. Since this is your first year using Mike's dietary cycle, not all your birds will line up like robots. My first year, about 60-70% of my birds responded, the others didn't....so just moved them to maintenance until they molted, and switched them back to breeding molting diet when I saw the molt.

When I was in Australia during September, it was the beginning of the austere period, and the wild Goulds didn't look great either. Some were already molting, others not as tightly feathered....all looked in a funk. And that is how my birds look during the austere period also. But nobody starved, and have been using Mike's cycle for about 16 months now. As Mike told me, if your birds are otherwise healthy, they will be fine on the Austerity Diet."

Thanks Tiffany, that helps. I won't worry too much about it. How long do you use the Maintenance /Resting diet After the molting is complete?

The general calendar goes something like this:

1. Maintenance/Resting Season Diet (3 months)

2. Austere Diet (1 month to reduce body fat, cease hormone flow, and rest the reproductive organs of adult birds)

3. Breeding Season Diet (6 months)

4. Austere Diet (2 weeks to help induce the molt of adult birds...DO NOT USE ON UNMOLTED JUVENILE BIRDS)

5. Molting Season Diet (6 weeks)

6. Repeat Maintenance/Resting Season Diet in Step 1 to restart the annual cycle

So - after the molt is complete you transition them to the Maintenance/Resting diet for 3 months :)

I was going to order Birds R Us Mixes. I am glad to see that others are using it, and I am assuming, recommending it? It is good stuff?

I can't find decent seed mix in my area, and my babies deserve the best! I liked ladygouldianfinch.com, but frankly for a $40 order, I can't afford to pay $55 in shipping. (Not when I can get the same amount for $17 shipping through friskyfinches.com. Quite a difference!)

Where do you get your Birds R Us seed mixes?

Blue Ribbon -

The only authorized retailer for it in the US (it is manufactured in Australia and was formulated by Mike Fidler himself) is through FabulousFinch.com

The key is that you have to be ordering quite a bit of seed for it to be cost effective since the least expensive shipping option is UPS, which historically charges LESS the MORE the shipment weighs (counter-intuitive, I know).

But just for instance; ordering a $10 bag of seed would probably cost $13+ in shipping; but ordering $50+ worth of seed usually costs about the SAME in shipping.

So what I usually do is order multiple bags at once.

E.g., I'll order a bag of the Breeding/Molting, Resting/Maintenance and Premium Finch; or Maintenance/Resting + White Sprout Mix, etc.

:)

Also; if you sign up for the newsletter on the list, you usually get email promos for discounts ;)

And yes - it is great stuff.
I have sent free samples to friends; with no financial interest in the blends or in FabFinch.com; because I love them so much and there isn't nearly enough marketing for them.

It was newly introduced in the US late last year.

I do think you should definitely use what works best for your birds, but I find that my customers tend to want to use what I use, so I find myself recommending the blends to a lot of people.

The price is off-putting, but - they are imported from AU, and also, a portion of every sale is donated to the Save the Gouldian Fund.

If that doesn't justify the price enough, I think the way your birds respond to the blends will :)

BRT, you can order Mike Fidler's food from Fabulous Finches

I think this food will become popular as the idea of feeding different foods for different stages in the Gouldian's breeding cycle. Larraine from LGF.com feeds the same food year round. It might result in more productivity in those who use different foods for different stages. I also believe that both the cock and hen need to come into breedding condition at around the same time. This way, cocks won't toss chicks because they are in sync with the hens in trying to raise their chicks.
The austerity diet forces them into molt so in theory when they come into breeding season, they should also come into breeding season at the same time.

OT: I promise I haven't forgotten about the DVD Jordan! I will try to get to it this weekend

nixity wrote:OT: I promise I haven't forgotten about the DVD Jordan! I will try to get to it this weekend

Oh, I know. I mentioned you should take your time so that's fine. Just let me know when you're ready.

I ordered some of their premium seed and white sprout mix. My birds ate it, but didn't seem to be so crazy about it. I went back to buying from Laraine at the bird mart. My birds really seem to like that seed best and I talked with her a good while at the last bird fair She does feed the same diet year round. This has worked for me for three years now, so I am sticking with what works.

It is true.. you just have to find what works with your birds the best and go with it.

Donna the Premium seed is a bit different than the Gouldian Pro blends. I got the Premium blend for my Societies and they don't particularly care for it in that they only seem to eat the larger millet seeds that are in the mix.

I have found, though, that my fledgling and juvenile Gouldians LOVE it - the smaller seeds in this mix seem to be easier for them to manipulate at first, I guess; so I just mix it with the Molting mix which has a high % of canary and fescue that some of my birds like, while others not so much - so blending the two together gives me good results :)

My birds liked Laraine's mix as well but it seemed sort of bland and if you're not close, the shipping really hurts :((

nixity wrote:
My birds liked Laraine's mix as well but it seemed sort of bland and if you're not close, the shipping really hurts

ahhhh okay I ordered it after hearing such great things about it. Perhaps I didn't do it quite right.

I sometimes buy a few other seeds and add them to Laraine's mix. I bought some proso and niger this last time I am fortunate in that I do not have to pay shipping. I just have her bring it to the mart for me. If you don't do that, sometimes she sells out...