new to goldians

[B CAMP]

shanny2
You could check out this link
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... s%3Disch:1

[solo_birdlover]

Thank you B CAMP and Domenic for the reply. That's what I thought. It must be exaggeration. I mean, if you can take good care of other kinds of finches, why would Gouldians be any more challenging? And yeah, I think it's true, people see a beautiful bird and they automatically assume it must be one that's hard to keep alive.

I think I am going to get a Gouldian or two soon and I'm sure I can provide them with the care they need but I hope being in a place where no sun light enters the rooms won't be an issue.

[franny]

Thank you B CAMP and Domenic for the reply. That's what I thought. It must be exaggeration. I mean, if you can take good care of other kinds of finches, why would Gouldians be any more challenging? And yeah, I think it's true, people see a beautiful bird and they automatically assume it must be one that's hard to keep alive.

I think I am going to get a Gouldian or two soon and I'm sure I can provide them with the care they need but I hope being in a place where no sun light enters the rooms won't be an issue.

Solo_birdlover,

I think you would LOVE having gouldians! I've had my pair for only a few months, and I too was afraid that they would be more than I could handle. But it was worth it. I know you love to hear your birds sing. Well my gouldian male has the most beautiful song! I was so surprised, because not many people seem to think they are good singers. But he sings just like a canary, only softer. He sings every evening, for at least an hour! I don't know how he keeps it up!
A beautiful song I never get tired of. And this is with a female in the cage with him. He sings to her, to the other birds, and to the great outdoors!

Although I did find that one of the birds had scaley mites on her feet, noticed it after the quarantine period...I had to treat all 4 of my birds. But I was able to catch it before it got really bad and she is in wonderful shape now, and no disfigurement. You can use the same product you would use for ASM for Scaley Mites, so it is not really a big problem to treat.

There is supposed to be another bird mart in November, but the location isn't determined yet. In Walnut Grove I think.

Is the pair you were looking at the pair at the Guildford Mall? The hen is exactly like mine! BH/WB/NB. I think she's beautiful, and I can't say that I have seen any open mouth breathing when I've looked at them there. But they want too much for them.

Check Kijiji because the group that holds the bird marts in Cloverdale (now Walnut Grove) and another group that holds them in North Langley, always advertise them there.

[shanny2]

how can gouldians get scaley mitess

[solo_birdlover]

Thanks for the reply, Franny. Yes, I do love to hear my birds sing. Unfortunately, my GS isn't singing at all since I put the female with him. Thankfully, my CB male is singing a lot more now.

I think I remember one member here mentioning that they loved their Gouldian's song. You're the second person to say that now. So, now I'm even more determined to get a Gouldian. I'd love to have at least 2 or 3 different finches with different songs.

The sick Gouldian I saw was at Pet Land. Generally, I dont buy from pet stores. They're way too expensive. I go there -or to Pets mart- once in a while just to look at the different finches they have. I know about kijiji. Thats how I know when theres a bird mart. There was one just over a week ago (Sat) and there was a guy -not a breeder-who had 3 perfectly gorgeous Gouldians he was trying to get rid of. He was asking $180 for all 3 and I came so close to buying them but that was when I still had my worries about keeping Gouldians. The other thing, he wanted to sell all 3 togather and I didnt want all. Someone made him an offer and snatched all 3. Must've paid less than the original $180 too. I just wanted to kick myself for not buying them first.

I know there's a breeder in Langley who sells them and he was at the mart too but he was asking more money of course. Well, now I know for sure I want them and paying a little more won't be a big problem. I just need to think if I want just a male or a pair.

[franny]

...The sick Gouldian I saw was at Pet Land.
.

That makes me furious! I went to Petland last night to pick up cat litter, and of course I checked out the birds. There are 2 gouldians there, and sure enough, they are both coughing/sneezing badly and rubbing their faces constantly. I called a clerk over and told her I thought they had either scaley face mites or more likely ASM. She said she would tell the "bird" manager. I said they should be isolated while treating. They are in a tiny cage right next to a cage with 2 goldbreasts and some other waxbill. Nothing but wire between them. She said she'd pass it along.

So they did nothing after you spoke to them! I wouldn't buy any bird from them now, since there's a good change that others will be sick now, too.

Shanny2:

They can get the mites from their parents when being fed in the nest. Or from saliva from other birds (i.e. sharing food/water with other birds who have the mites). Sometimes they can be carriers of these mites for months, but not show any sign, until they get stressed out. Like a move to the pet store, or your home. Then the mites take advantage of their weakened immune system and they appear to get sick very suddenly, although they've maybe had the mites for a long time.

It is treatable, though these two were sneezing so badly that it would be a long tough road to treat them, and they might not recover at all. It's the kind of thing you want to treat aggressively right at the first signs of trouble. This pet store, even if they have been treating them, should have removed them from display (which is stressful in itself), and separated them from the other birds, for sure!