Gouldian temperature

[skyjump100]

Hi everyone (especially those who live in the UK)

I currently have 2 pairs of Gouldians who are in two seperate large cages in my living room (open plan to dining room). I'm new to finches and during my research I read that they should be kept at a temperature of 70 - 75 degrees F. Does everyine keep them at this temp or can you lower the temp over time? Just wondered as I have a heater on constantly whihc makes it sometimes uncomfortabel to sit and watch tv etc.

Cheers

[DanteD716]

How cold is your house without the heater? I let my birdroom get anywhere from 60-80F

[skyjump100]

Hey Dante,
I haven't tried yet to see how they get on One pair is still moulting so thought I might start lowering the temperature in the house as it gets warmer outside - summer is coming apparently though with all the wind and rain lately you wouldn't think it.

[DanteD716]

Hopefully it will get nicer!

[kheather]

I will say my house is pretty chilly in winter....60-65f, mine do fine...but half way thru winter I added a small heat lamp on the gould cage and they really perked up, so now I keep one on one side of flight, they seem to like it.

[debbie276]

During the winter here my outside aviary is heated enough to keep the temperature above 60F and they do fine.

[skyjump100]

Thanks guys! I reduced the thermostat on the heating very slightly this morning but wont change it very much as I now have my very first egg so want to leave things as they are for a while.

[flyinverted]

It is my experience that Goudians are way more hearty than folks give them credit for. They do not do well with drafts, however they (healthy birds) can take 30-40 degrees with no ill effects. This cooling must come gradually however.

In California, we've had one of the coolest winters this past year and I have 20+ Gouldians outside. I do have heat lamps in the aviary, and only a few of the birds sit under them at night.

As I make contact with more and more local breeders, I have found there are many folks with outdoor aviaries with Gouldians in SoCal.

My last few clutches hatched during the coolest part of this past winter and I did not loose any birds. My aviary is on concrete and all of the fledglings that spent their first few days on the cold floor are doing well.

[Melie]

I'm in Australia (pretty much in the same area where gouldians live in the wild) and over winter here it gets down to about 50 overnight then back up to 70 -75 during the day. My aviary is outside and I just have a canvas sheet that I pull over the front during the night to keep the chill out.