Gouldian Behavior

KNG5 · Post by **KNG5** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:01 pm

Alright..so as I've said before I have 4 gouldians in one cage - 2 males and 2 females (one female still hasn't colored out). I put two nests in there just to see what would happen. The orange head gould shows a lot of interest in one of the nests, and I've seen him carry some dried grass up to build with. The female that's colored out likes to go in there with him, and the other female loves to go check it out. The black headed male isn't interested at all. But does that mean the orange male and colored female are a pair? I haven't seen them mate or anything. I don't even know if she's in breeding condition. The other male sings to the females I suppose, but nobody's interested. I wonder if the other female will change her mind when she's molted into her adult colors?

Oh yeah, since both females have started losing some feathers on their heads, I ordered Liquid Iodine, Feather Fast, and Miracle Meal Soft Food from ladygouldianfinch.com So hopefully that'll help them out.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 7:35 am

Gouldians normally mate IN the nest box. So that's probably why you are not seeing any of that behavior. They like their privacy. ;)

Have you observed your OH displaying to the hen? First he bows to her, then he dances. Check out this video,
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 4776631154

KNG5 · Post by **KNG5** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 11:13 am

Oh yeah, he's always hopping around. It's so funny. The BH does this too, but not as much. The uncolored female always seems to interrupt by attacking both males in the middle of their song.

Anneka · Post by **Anneka** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 1:33 am

Tammie, that was such a sweet video. I don't have Gouldians ... yet.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:55 am

They are lovely birds. Their behavior is very regal.

Post by **Hilary** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:51 am

Well, regal except for when they're hopping up and down like little multi-colored pogo sticks!!

KNG5 · Post by **KNG5** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 8:45 am

Ok, so the OH is always singing to the hen. She doesn't do anything back really. But the two always go in the nest together. He sings to her while they''re both in there, but usually she flies out. She doesn't really bite at him, unlike the other hen. Are they going to pair up or not???

The hen seems to like both nest baskets.. The BH male isn't building one that I know of, and the hen doesn't like him either.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 1:05 pm

Hilary wrote:Well, regal except for when they're hopping up and down like little multi-colored pogo sticks!!

Pogo sticks? Yeah I guess so, but classy ones at that!

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 1:08 pm

KNG5 wrote: The hen seems to like both nest baskets.. The BH male isn't building one that I know of, and the hen doesn't like him either.

So you have given them wicker basket nests?

I believe Goulds, generally, breed more willingly in a nest box.

Unless, like some on here, you have an overly eager Gould pair that will breed in a potted plant! ;)

KNG5 · Post by **KNG5** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 1:14 pm

Yeah, I just put them in to see what would happen. I fugure since he's building in it, he must like it.

Have you guys heard anything about blue back gouldians being weaker than normals? I've heard people say that, but I'm not sure if it's true or not. I might buy a hen for $95. The thing is though, I saw who I THINK might be the guy selling her posting on another website, asking about a blueback gouldian hen with feather loss and a bump above her eye. (And he only has one blueback bird for sale). So I'm kind of suspicious about that. Same first name, same location.

KNG5 · Post by **KNG5** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 5:52 pm

Ouch! I just saw the male dangling the juvenile by her neck..pulled some feathers out. Poor girl! I hope I can get that aviary built soon.

Post by **Hilary** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 12:32 am

I've read that blues used to be weaker because of the inbreeding it took to get them, but the mutation is prevalent enough now that most birds should be pretty strong.