Gouldian Finch Breeding Season (UK)

[Ian]

Hi All,

Finally getting a few Gouldians to keep (and hopefully breed). I have read several very informative articles on cycling these birds to ensure the moult coincides with the warmest part of the year etc (mid summer here). But alternative articles suggest that the Gouldian will naturally go to nest during the winter months because of its southern hemispere origins. To confuse things even further it has also been stated that the breeding season (trigger) is driven primarily by diet. So if there are any resident Gouldian breeders who successfully breed this species in the UK could you possibly advise on the following (thankyou).

1. Is there a preferred time of year to breed these birds?
2. Breeding March through June makes sense in order that the birds can then moult through July August.
3. I have a heated birdroom which maintains a good temperature in the winter but it would not possibly be as high as the natural temperature during high summer so would it be best to utilise the natural summer temperatures.
4. What is the best age to commence breeding from Gouldians ( 1 year ?).
5. Is it best to seperate the sexes during the non breeding period.

Many Thanks
Ian

[Nipper06]

Ian,

I am no expert but I did successfully breed my Gouldian pair last year. I bred them in the heat of summer but I keep a ceramic heat lamp over a corner of their cage switched on all year.

To trigger breeding, besides providing the nest box and nesting material, I supplied them with sprouted seed and fresh homemade eggfood. I got pretty good at sprouting seeds - I bought a sprouting seed "mix" and a plastic seed sprouter kit - and used AviClens in the water for soaking, to avoid having the seed go bad. I also changed the sprouting water 1 - 2 times a day.

About AviClens: http://fabulousfinch.com/cart/products/ ... 67-37.html

My pair laid quite a few "dud" (infertile) eggs before they got it right. I think I had them 2+ years before I had any babies. But once they hatched babies, they took good care of them. I never bothered separating the pair, outside of breeding season, but I did remove the next box to stop the hen from laying. I kept the babies with the parents for nearly a year but I removed the nest box after they hatched their first babies (because by then, the female had laid several clutches of eggs that season and I thought she should rest).

Here are some photos:

The Gouldian pair's cage in my sunroom:


The parents before breeding:


The babies (only 2 hatched out of 6 eggs):


First day out of the nest box:


The babies with their father - they took almost a full year to get adult plumage:

[poohbear]

It makes sense in the UK to use the Summer months to breed gouldians.
Mine get extra eggfood and soaked seeds at this time.But since starting back up again a few weeks back mine aren't doing a damn thing....plenty of investigation of nest sites...but that's it.Buying three more pairs this weekend so I'm hoping for some results.

I hate starting up with new birds all over again..Not like having a proven stud...new stock could very well be birds that haven't bred for whatever reason.All you can do is buy on trust and hope other breeders play fair.