My two first gouldians!!

[Babs _Owner]

debbie276

I might have answered my own question about her happiness. When we brought her home, her beak was red tipped like the male.

Now (after checking 5 minutes ago) half the top of her beak is turning gray/back. Only a bit of red on the bottom half. We surrounded the nest box with Faux greenery......and put up more around the cage.

Seems good, yes?

[lovezebs]

Babs

Hi Babs.

How old is Bridgette again?
From the back view in the picture, it almost looks like she's molting, or is that just my old eyes?

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

Heres the both of them getting ready for bed. I hope to get a better shot of the color of her beak during sunlight hours. They are 12 months old. They like to sleep under the red-heat lamp. Getting chilly at night. They are bonding together everynight. That must be a good sign ?? This is the ONLY time they fluff up like that. The rest of the day they prance around. Any tips Elana?

Their behavior is so new to me.

[Kelly]

Babs

So beautiful! I would want to sit and watch them all day.

[Babs _Owner]

Kelly

They are shyer than our societies for sure. I have tons more questions than I thought I would have.

[Kelly]

Babs

I'm sure with time they will get better. They have a pretty awesome finch Mom ;)

[Babs _Owner]

Kelly

Thank very much!

[lovezebs]

Babs

The reason I asked about the molting, is that in the picture, It looks like the feathers on her back are not a smooth colour (if tha makes any sense ?).

Best way to explain ( a picture is better than a thousand words, right ?)

Look at Sharra's back, and compare to Bridgett's.

[lovezebs]

Babs

The reason I asked about the molting, is that in the picture, It looks like the feathers on her back are not a smooth colour (if that makes any sense ?).

Best way to explain ( a picture is better than a thousand words, right ?)

Look at Sharra's back, and compare to Bridgett's.

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

In the picture of her back, her wings are slightly apart. Her wings thankfully do look complete. Ive noticed that the pictures do sometimes cut-off the complete feathering of the birds.

Neither birds look tattered. Ive only noticed two light spots above Brigettes eyes where the black isnt solid.

I got rid of the angular perches and made them more "straight". In the videos Ive seen the male likes to prance on a straight line.

We watched them for over an hour tonight and she seemed to try and coax him down on the dowel perch (after she gorged on seed and millet). She did a bit of tail flickering, but he wanted to doze off. 8:30 pm we put the lights out and left the red-heat lamp on in the corner.

[lovezebs]

Babs

Tail flickering..... the little flirt , and him an innocent sleepy little boy.

I'm glad to hear your girl is not molting, because then you wouldn't be wanting to breed her until she was done.

It's so fascinating to sit and watch the birdlings, isn't it? I lose more time that way, just watching them going about their busy little lives. They make me smile, and not a lot of things do now a days.

Enjoy the kids, and don't forget the hard boiled eggs .

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

Yep you right. Eggs on the stove tomorrow! I her beak gets anymore black, I will assume she will need it daily.

Yes its hard to get off the couch when Bill and I start watching them

[lovezebs]

Babs

Your sweetie, will need her eggs and her calcium. If you have some freeze dried mealworms, crush them to smithereens and mix them into the eggs. The kids will enjoy that.

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

I have some dried mealworms from when I was raising the bluejay this spring. They seem hollow to me. Thrown them into eggfood mix with the food processor?

[lovezebs]

Babs

Nah, that will turn it into mush.
I put my eggs through a garlic press, so they come out like little wormies.

I crush the freeze dried mealworms in a small bowl with the bottom of a glass, until they are pulverized.

Then I add them to the eggs along with spray millet crumbles, and some store bought egg food. Toss it gently together with a fork, and serve. YUMMS!!!