DESCRIPTION:
Size:13-16 cm. wingspan :22-27 cm. weight:17.5 – 21.5 gr.
European goldfinch approximately 13-16 cm.long, 22-27cm wingspan = 13+22=35:2=17.5 grams.weight
Siberian 16cm.long+27cm.wingspan=43
43:2=21.5 gr.weight size+wingspan/2=ideal weight of goldfinches.
13+22/2=17.5gr.
MALE OR FEMALE ?
male...................................................................female
photos by batuhan
On males the red on the face extends to the edge of the eyes,on females it does not.
on female all colors brighter than females.the females have duller colors than male.when you look at open wings of the male ;the shoulder of the wings on male black,on female brown.The white on male neck clear white and narrow ,on female duller-disty and wider.The males song longer,stronger,louder and more varied than hens.
The cock beak is longer than the hens.male colors are more intensive.on male the black on head more intensive and bright.on males side of head clean,clear,bright white ..
On females,side of head the white is clouded,duller.goldfinch hens have drab colors..
On hens side of head the white larger and clouded.
Goldfinch hens usually smaller;smaller size,shorter beak,drabber colors,less song,
CAGE-AVIARY ?
No cage is larger than nature.
No cage is too large for goldfinches
No cage is big enough for goldfinches
It is always much better to keep and breed the goldfinches in an aviary than to keep and breed them in a cage.
In aviaries there should be more nests available than there are pairs of birds.
Breeding cage sould be divided by removable wire and/or solid divider to keep the cock and hen seperated untill they get used to each other and are ready to mate..
Place the cage as high as possible .minumum eye level .because the goldfinches must feel safe and secury themselves..otherwise hens never try to build the nest and some hens do not mate until she build her nest.
BREEDING CAGE SIZE ?
Range: from 60cm. to………..as large as possible
I prefer minimum 100cm.
For the best result as large as possible.
The best is an aviary..but none of these better than NATURE..
The breeding cage should be big enough for the goldfinches to fly in the cage ..
Protect the half of the cage(where the nest is)from direct sunlights..
The goldfinches espicially the hens need to fly in the cage for exercise during(before) breeding season
The breeding cage should be minimum 60 cm.But do not use smaller than 100cm.cages.Flights better.
The best is for the european goldfinches in flights for breeding.
EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH DIET :
The european goldfinch has a wide varied diet :
http://www.izlesene.com/video/hayvanlar ... er/1017396
http://www.izlesene.com/video/hayvanlar ... lar/985477
http://www.izlesene.com/video/hayvanlar ... ler/985447
http://www.izlesene.com/video/hayvanlar ... aka/983596
http://www.izlesene.com/video/hayvanlar ... eni/983577
all photos and videos by batuhan
A good mixture of wild seed
A good mixture of canary seed
Greens-plants-trees -shrubs
Egg food
Grit
Live-food
Fresh water
Fresh air
Sunlight
Full of LOVE
European goldfinches eat over 160 different seeds in wild.they eat in a day minimum 35 different plants and 11 different insects .
EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH FAVORITE FOODS ?
photos by batuhan
Thistle seeds ,dandelion seeds,hemp seeds,teasel seed,rape seed,niger,chicory,sunflower seed….
PLANTS:
Dandelion,groundsel,ragwort,knapweed,teasel,agrimony,clematis,restharrow,cardoon,thistiles,common flax,buckwheat,canary grass,black lettuce,perilla,blue poppy,shephards purse,common alder,oxalis,sesame,bee polen,colts foot,ribwort plantain,orchard grass,anise,burdock,wild oats,dark mullein,hawthorn,birch,common alder,evening primrose
Dandelion,chicory,kale,broccoly,spinach,black cabbage,carrot tops,blue maw,docks,sorrel,groundsel,fresh chicweed,wild plantain,meadow sweet,patatoes…
European goldfinches also eat fruits,flowers,acorns,different plant insects,catkins,leaf insects,buds,seeds ,nuts from Alder,Alnus,Betula,Pine,Pinus,Salix,Willow,Oak,Mallow,Birch,Elm,Plane Trees…
FRUITS : ?
Apple,pear,fig,redraspberry,rosehip,berries,elder…..
LIVE FOODS :
İnsects,spiders,aphids,mealworms,small caterpillars,beetles,flies,ant eggs,larvaes,sunflower magggots,sunflower moth,sunflower midge,sunflower insects,sawflies…
Egg-food
Sprouted and soaked seeds :rinse and drain ,again and again ……
HOW MANY PAIRS IN ONE CAGE OR AVIARY ?
One pair in one cage.
Outdoor or indoor better for breeding ?
Outdoor always better for the goldfinches..
In garden or balcony
TWIRLING-THROWING HEAD BACK ?
Some of the reasons are : too small cages,infections,top(roof)-wired small cages,too close placed perches to the roof of the cage etc….
NEST ?
The nest site should be placed as high as possible behind the artificial greens in the breeding cage (or place the camouflaged nest in the corner of the cage )
The nest MUST be hidden and camouflaged…
Female goldfinches build the nest with thick materials at the begining,cotton will be used by hen in the interior of the nest .at the end females line the nest with cotton or thin material in captivity.In wild she lines the nest with thistle down and other soft and plant downs..
PERCHES ?
Untill 100cm long sizecage provide only two softwood and non-toxic perches in different diameters
Sleeping-perch:
Place one or two perches set high in the corner of the cage so the birds to sleep..
Do not place the perches too close to the bars..
The perches should be disenfected.
WATER ?
European goldfinches love to bath.In Türkish goldfinch means :saka ;it means :water carier-water bearer.
Provide fresh water.and add into the water a few drops of apple vinegar…
Goldfinches can not survive20 hours without water .
BREEDING ?
European goldfinch breeding
HOW TO BREED EUROPEN GOLDFINCHES ? (in cage)
The European goldfinches need a large cage or aviary for breeding.In a large cage or aviary you can get better and easier result on breeding season.And one of the reason –cause of eating the eggs of the male-goldfinch is the small cage.therefore aviaries or big cages much better for breeding.
Use only cage-bred birds to succes at breeding .Wild catched-trapped birds may breed in a cage but will be too diffucult or need longer time..
Even captive-cage bred birds may breed if conditions are suitable:compatible pair of birds,cleaning-higienic,balanced diet(seeds,greens,plants,live food,egg food,minerals,fresh water(never medicated foods)before they sick never vitamins or antibiotics (if you still you want to give though; stop a month before starting breeding)
Protein is very important for european goldfinches .not just need breeding time .they need all round year.Increase everyday after February.give it to female more than male.usually(always) male goldfinches come in to the breeding condition before female goldfinches
They always need mix seeds,greens,plants,minerals,proteins….
İf your goldfinches used to live in a aviary ,do not put them in to actual breeding cage just in breeding season time.put them in to breeding cage before a few month ago.unless obligate you never use foster parents.because european goldfinch parents feed their youngsters with nutritional foods.if you have to ,use the same day incubated female bird.
Provide small-narrow-deep nests at different places in the cage .they will choose one of them .
For european goldfinches camouflaging nest is very important.
Breeding them in an aviary or in a large cage no matter ;it is best to keep them saparate up end of february.In March you can pair them into a saparated cage.
BREEDING(STOCK) BIRDS:SELECTION OF BREEDING PAIRS ?
You need minimum 8-9 month old male and female goldfinches. One year-old O.K
But I prefer 1.5 – 2 year-old .The best result taken from 2 year-old birds
LESS than 10 month-old you may get unwanted problems…
BREEDING CAGES OR AVIARY:
You need minumum 60cm.long, 45cm.tall and 40cm.wide……than up to as LARGE as you like:aviaries
The ideal,or the best is an Aviary.In one cage or even in one Aviary only one-(1)pair….
None of the cages are bigger than nature…
I use divided cage;with two dividers:one is solid ,the other one is wire.
The male is on one side,and the female is on the opposite side :Untill February I keep them separate in the divided cage by solid divider.The male bird does not see the hen but heard her voice.Then the male sing more and more loudly.Male song is to attract the female and get her in to the full breeding-mating condition.The male european goldfinch elaborate songs helps to attract and stimulate the hen goldfinch.
In March you exchance the solid divider with the wire divider(in the same moment)
They bond with each other…
When they get used to each other ,the male goldfinch feeds and kiss the hen through wire.during this time give the egg-food only to the male to feed the female through the bars.
PAIRING:
BREEDING CONDITION: How to bring the female goldfinch into breeding condition ?
Breeding Problems
How to bring the hens into breeding condition ?
the hen does not accept to mate
on the link below
videos by batuhan
.. european goldfinch breeding the most diffucult thing is to bring the hen into breeding condition.
In other words some times hens do not build nest or lay….
Usually(always) male goldfinches come into breeding condition before the hens….
WHY DO NOT THE HENS LAY ?(no build nest)
Be patient with maiden hens.usually maiden hens begin to build nests and to lay after the mature hens. so the best way is to use 2 year-old hen for breeding.
If the perches are too close to the top (roof)wires of the cage the pair cannot to mate
If the hen see lack of proper food source she does not want to mate
Goldfinches need plenty of exercise in flights .In too small breeding cages may cause deny to mate by hen
Too young hens do not want to mate
Light,temperature,foods,breeding cage,age of pairs,humudity etc..conditions affect breeding situation..
How to bring the hen into breeding condition ?
Light : outdoor :sunlights --- indoor:full spectrum sun lamp.
Temperature: -season:
Humidity
Foods
Male’s song
Flight
Nest and nesting material
Location of goldfinch cage and nest:breeding cage should be placed at eye level or higher level
Light : goldfinches need 15-16 hours of daylight to breed (sunlight-daylight)
Temperature: -season: the most important is to be in breeding season:in Turkey:from April to August
Food: soft food ;soaked,sprouted seeds,egg food,hemp seeds…fruits:raspberry,strawberry,apple,
Greens;kale,lettuce,dark leafy vegetables,dandelion…………niger..dandelion,shephers purse..
A variety of seeds,soaked and sprouted seeds,protein,insects,egg food,fresh fruits….
A good mixture of canary seeds,mixture of goldfinch wild seeds,fresh water,fresh air…
Male’s song : cocks song helps to bring the hen into breeding condition
Niger seed,maw seed,red millet,flax seed,dandelion seed,hemp seed,sesame seeds ,teasel seeds,oats seed,linseeds,thistle seeds are some of Tonic seeds for the european goldfinches.
Cod liver oil,wheat germ oil ,spirulina,bee pollen :add these into egg-food will help the goldfinches (espicially hen goldfinch)bring into mating condition.
Flight: in the breeding cage must be enough space for flight espicially for hen
To be successful at breeding , when one of the pair is maiden (hen),the other pair must be a mature cock .he is experenced and help the hen
Nest and nesting material :
Place the nest site as possible as high in the cage. Some nesting material like cotton ,dandelion down stimulate the goldfinches…
Even if you offer-supply all these things ,the hen may still not lay :
According to my experince ; if a hen does not buid the nest
If she does not lay (no egg)
Causes to this : immaturity of hen or the hen does not feel herself in safe and secure
If the hen goldfinches too young
or the breeding cage too low to the floor ,
or if the hen does not feel SECURE in breeding cage and in nest she NEVER g oto nest and lay
therefore the most important thing is the hen should be felt more secure during breeding time in breeding cage,in nest otherwise she never build nest and –or lay
The goldfinch hens never like the cocks...
the hens want to secure themselves and their nest and chicks...
if the hen does not feel this ,then she never go to nest...
if the hen is too young ,she never mates...(the hen is not in full breeding condition):
as you see in the video below:even if the cock drive the hen to nest;no way to mate,to nest,to lay........
if the hen 2-year old and everything is O.K with breeding
place the breeding cage minimum eye level or higher to make the hen feel MORE SECURE
so this is more improtant than light,tempurate,humudity,foods all others
for the hen the most important thing is securing ,securing,securing…….
No securing ,never mate,no nest,no egg….
No egg , no chicks….
videos by batuhan
Plant estrogens:Flaxseed,millet,sunflowerseeds,oats,red raspberry,barley,linseeds,hempseeds,apple,celery,parsley,bokchoy,beets,broccoly,couflower,carrots,cucumber,brussel sprouts,squash,pumpkinseeds,sunflowerseeds….Plant estrogen bring the goldfinches into the breeding condition..
Bee pollen,niger,hempseed,sunflowerseeds,wheat germ oil,spirulina give high energy..
High protein
Lighting:
lighting one of the most important factör to bring the birds into breeding condition:16 hours
Red light bring the birds into breeding condition
Placing the nest and nesting materials.
İf female goldfinch is not in full breeding condition ,she never g oto nest.
The cock always try to drive the hen in to the nest for building the nest.
Male’s stimulating song:the male song is to attact the female .
Balanced diet:
The european goldfinches not like the canaries or other finches;
european goldfinches need more mix seeds,more greens,more live foods(during breeding)
they love saffflower,thistle,sunflower,niger,hempseed,teasel,dandelion,d-a-n-d-e-l-i-o-n verymuch....:during moulting:give them:dandelion(always they like very much),
millet,cereal seeds,canary mix seeds,wild bird mix seeds,lettuce seeds,strawberry,asparagus,lima,kale,romaine lettuce,zucchini,endive,peppers,pumpkin,spinach(give little),flax,fig,soaked and sprouted seeds,maw,shepherds purse,teasle,red canola rape…
they love greensfoods :
broccoli,lettuce,spanich,dandelion,dandelion,dandelion,carrot,sweetpotatos,
kale....
everyday greens ...yes please everyday..
thistle,groundsel,agrimony,plantain,ragwort,hawthorn,clematis,cardoon,knapweed........
elm tree,birch,plane-tree,cedar,pine,alder,mountain-ash :they love their buds,seeds,fruits....
they need live foods during breeding:
mealworms,fruit fly larvaes,bugs,fly,sawfly,moths,spider,aphids,
beetles for example :sunflower headclipping weevil,sunflower beetle,sunflower maggots,sunflower seed flower,sunflower stem weevil.........
ants,ant eggs and larvaes........
egg food very important
soft food
sprouted,germinated,soaked seeds
and : spirulina.....
Bee-polen
Cod liver oil
fresh water..
fresh air..
big cage or aviary
goldfinches not like canaries......
goldfinches need all these things ..
During molting:
During molting if you feed them the foods are rich in likopen; -capsentine-capsorubin);
like dog-rose(rosa canina),tomato,pomegranate,red peeper-cayenne paprika(capsantine-capsorubin): mix them in a blender and add in to birds egg food with beta caroten and with spirulina .during this period give to the birds fatty seeds. These foods and sunlights(D3vitamin) help to color in red head face mask of goldfinches..
When you give some nesting material like cotton to the birds if the birds are in full breeding condition ;you will see the cock and the female,ruffle their feathers .at this time the cock courting the hen and sing loudly the hen squat,if this happen remove the wire to mate them
Pictures…….
BATHING:
http://www.izlesene.com/video/hayvanlar ... lar/985344
photo and video by batuhan
goldfinches love to bath everyday.
FEEDING THE CHICKS:
NESTLING FOOD:
Provide egg-food(I use quail eggs),soaked and sprouted seeds to the parents to feed the nestlings.
Live foods.in fifth day greens.and apple,grated carrot,poppy seed.
While the young goldfinches eat soaked seeds they also get practice fort he harder seeds.
During breeding season you should provide live foods – insects like spiders,aphids,mealworms,small caterpillars,beetles,flies,ant eggs,larvaes,sunflower magggots,sunflower moth,sunflower midge,sunflower insects,sawflies for protein .
During a few days after hatching the european goldfinch chicks should be fed with live insects and after a few days of hatching should be fed with greens and a little apple by parents.
ABOUT SEEDS : ?
Dandelion one of the best greens for european goldfinches.
Other greens for european goldfinches :dark green leaves ;dark lettuce,black lettuce,broccoly,spanich,black cabbage,nettle,kale,chicory etc…
Thistle seed is the best seed for european goldfinches.
Burdock seed is the best seed in winter for them.
TEASEL SEED: espicially the male european goldfinch is the only bird with its long beak to reach the seeds in the depths of teasel heads.
At european goldfinch breeding the most important is if the parents(cock-hen)birds feed their chicks or not….
If they feed the chicks then everything is O.K
If they do not feed the chicks, unwanted problems come consecutuvely…
You can check the cock during incubating time while hen is laying on eggs if the cock break or eat the eggs:you Exchange the real eggs with the fake or infertile egg.If the eggs are broken by cock then you keep away the cock to the other side of the divided cage.if the eggs broken or not feeding and raising by hen then you have to use foster birds …..
Offer the parents to feed their chicks and youngs :
Soaked and sprouted seeds,egg food-egg mash,mix wild seeds,aphids,mealworms,ant eggs,fly larvae
Before egg laying period give soaked and sprouted seeds,egg food and greens.during egg laying period never give soaked ,sprouted seeds ,egg food and greens.one or two days before hatching you can start giving again these foods :greens a few days after the hatching…
If the youngs can feed themselves ;soaked and germinated seeds,egg food,should be supplied till they are onto usual seeds mixture.
One of the most important thing is the female goldfinches feeds their chicks more nutritious foods than canary or others..
So do not use foster ,unless you are obliged to use it
Summary:
1-)A pair of healty cock and hen (minimum 7-8 month-old) - ( 2 year-old fort he best result)
2-)A big divided (by wire and solid)cage
Or aviary
3-)Balanced diet
4-)Lighting(15 hours)
5-)Camouflaged nest
6-)Day-sun light,sunshine
7-)Fresh air
Fresh water
And full of love…………..
DEAD IN SHELL and IN NEST ?
Caused by very different problems;humidity,deficiency iodine,nutritional deficiency,bacteries or virusus,vitamins and mineral deficiency,incubation interruption,too dry,too hot or too cold weather conditions,candled eggs .too young pairs can not raising the nestlings.parasites,vermits,coccidiosis and others.
FOSTERING ?
The best parents who raised their own clutch chics.
The goldfinch pair should be good setter and good feeder.
Some goldfinch hens build the nest ,lay the eggs but not sit or they abandon ,damage the eggs and the chics,or they will not raise their chics after a few days ,then of course you have to use foster parent.
HOW TO RETAIN THE RED COLOUR ?
During molting if you feed them the foods are rich in likopen; tomato,red paper,rosehip,red pepper,cayenne and paprika.mix them with a blender and then add some egg-food and some fatty seeds and feed on the goldfinches with this mixture during moulting.this mixture and sunlights will help to retain the red colour of the goldfinches.some insects:cochineal,lak and kermes.
SUNLIGHT-DAYLIGHT ?
If european goldfinches housed indoor aviary or cage and if they never see the sunlight ,a few drops of cod liver oil ,rape seeds and hemp seeds should be added to their egg-food.
In addition to this provide full spectrum sun lamps .
The goldfinches need 15-16 hours daylight during breeding season
They also need sunlight .
If your birds in indoor flights or cages then they need full spectrum light to get D3 vitamin:rape seed,hempseed.
The best is with daylight hours and follow nature ..
Nesting material?
european goldfinch and siberian goldfinch ?
siberian goldfinches stronger than other goldfinches and siberian goldfinches require insects all year round.typical goldfinches only require during breeding season.but I also offer insects to all my goldfinches all round year .
11-EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH DIET ?
Canary seeds,goldfinch wild seeds,fruits,greens,cuttle bone,fresh water.apple vinegar
Soaked seeds,sprouted seeds.
Egg food (I use quail egg)
Provide egg-food(I use quail eggs),soaked and sprouted seeds to the parents to feed the nestlings.
WHEN TO SEPARATE THE YOUNGS FROM THEIR PARENTS ?
WHY TO STOP TO FEED OR THROW THE CHICK OUT OF THE NEST ?
Usually when they are 3 weeks old.but make sure if they are eating their own food.It is better to place them in their own flights with some adult goldfinches.
BATH ?
European goldfinches do like to bath .EVERY DAY ……
vitamins or antibiyotics ?
Do not give vitamins or antibiotics unless the birds sick….
İt is said:should be-must be
But I never give vitamins or antibiotics to my birds unless they are ill…
goldfinches break the eggs ?
Depend on luck
possibility yes… %51 yes………………….%49 no
should be used foster –canary for goldfinches ?
Depends….if the parents break the eggs or do not care of feeding the chicks then you use canaries as a foster parent
Hen goldfinches should be good sitter,good feeder ….if not ,of course then used foster -canary
when to ring ?
4th. 5th.day after 6th.day it will be too diffucult..
Ring size:2.7mm.
INCUBATION :13-15 days
FLEDGING:14-17 days
EGGS ?
3 – 7 eggs
avarage:5 eggs
Used same nest:
In wild :different nests
In cage:if you provide she makes another nest
If you do not provide a new nest site then she use the same nest.
EGGS STORAGE TIME and TEMPERATURE
I personally never collect the eggs .if you want to collect and store the eggs ,THE STORAGE TEMPERATURE should be between 12-17 C degrees.
Never store the eggs more than 5 days.during days turn the eggs a few times .handle the eggs very carefully and gently.
Never handle the eggs.
For the best result not to collected/stored the eggs : follow the nature.
BREEDING SEASON :
The european goldfinch breeding season starts in April.
April to August
HOW MANY BROODS ?
In wild two. In captivity 2-4
From April to August
Do goldfinches break the eggs ?
Usually the cocks.if the cock break or demage the eggs or annoy the hen ;put it on the other partition side of the divided cage by wire untill the hatchings a few days old…return him to help feed the chicks..
Yes,usually the cocks do that.If this happen saperate the cock other side of the partition of the cage until the nestlings 8-10 days old.
Do goldfinches care about raising the chics?
FIGHTING ?
If hen and cock goldfiches fight ;saperate them in divided cage by wire on each side of the partition untill they get used to each other.
PAIRING ?
Never use 2 young or old pair.for the best result 2 years old ideal age for breeding
Either two of them let be 2 years old or if cock is much older then choose the hen younger.
İf the hen is too young like 8-9 month then the cock should be 2-3 years old.
Always prefer good setter,good breeder hens .do not try to pair non-setter hens for breeding.
If the cock goldfinch is in full breeding/mating condition and if the hen does not build the nest ;the pair may be incompatible,or the hen is too young,or the hen is not in full breeding condition,or the hen does not feel safe and secury herself in cage or in nest,or the hen can not see enough protein source in cage feeders etc….
MUST :
Stock birds must be cage bred
Clean-fresh food-clean-fresh water,good nutrition,sunlight,dryness,bathing
Sun-light(if not; provide your birds cod-liver oil,hemp seeds ,sun lamp,egg-yolk to get source of vitamin D)
Daylight
When you prepare soaked or sprouted seeds ;you MUST rinse and drain,rinse and drain,again and again several times a day.
The best soaked and sprouted seed is THE MOST rinsed and drained seed.
The best goldfinch nest is the best hidden nest.
You must provide your goldfinches different kind of greens everyday
You must provide fresh water for drinking and bathing
You must provide the largest cages to goldfinches
MUSN’T
YOU MUSN’T Look in to the nest to watch: some hens might leave lay on the eggs or damaged the eggs/chicks
YOU MUSNT handle the eggs or chicks:
You musnt ring the chicks:
I know that, you have to ring them but when you ring the nestlings then some hens may not care-raise the nestlings or she throw the ringed nestlings out of the nest.
You musnt use the wild- caughted goldfinches for breeding
You musnt feed the goldfinches one variety of food
You musnt use small cage for goldfinches
You musn’t use foster
You musnt use vitamin or antibiotics
You musnt place the feeders directly under the perches
You must not medicate goldfinches unless they are sick
You musnt young goldfinches with too much high water content greens.(lettuce,cucumber,etc.)(hemp seed is OK.)
You must NEVER feed your goldfinches deficient of wide varied foods and sunlights .deficient of foods and sunlight mean :deficient of vitamin D,B12,and other vitamins and minerals .sunlight very important for birds to get vitamin D,D3.
Otherwise,goldfinches fall of in prodution,hens produces soft,thin and clear eggs or chics can not have enough strong to break the eggs and so will die in shell.so embryo needs in shell before hatch biotin,folic asit,riboflovin and vitamin B12.
batuhan
