Can I keep gouldian finch outfoors?

[mondo]

A bit of info, I live in East Java - Indonesia
its warm here, during summers its very hot, and during monsoon season it gets cool and windy.

I would prefer to keep my birds in my outdoor aviary, living together with canaries and java finches.
With such climate, do you think its possible for me to keep gouldians?

A lot of sources I read from says these pretty birds are fragile and requires indoor captivity
but then I just remembered, those sources are written for subtropical climate where its cooler and has winter! there's no source for tropical climates...

I'm asking this because the other day someone wanted to give away his gouldian and wanted to give it to me...

[Sally]

Many people in more temperate areas of the United States keep Gouldians in outside aviaries. As long as they are safe from predators, I would think your climate would be fine for them.

[isobea]

Mondo - I am in southern California and during the winter the temperature repeatedly dips down to 38 F (3 C) or so during the night. I have kept gouldians in my outdoor aviary for many years without any problems. I do not have any kind of heating for any of my birds, but on cold and/or windy/rainy nights I close up the front and right side of the aviary (back and left side are solid wood) with plexi glass panels. Going on my experience, you should not have any problems. If you plan on breeding them at a later time, I would try to get birds that were parent-raised in an outdoor aviary.
Good luck and keep us updated.
Iso

[vienneparis]

mondo
I live in the Southwest area of the US where the temperature can get over 110 F in the summer and down below 40 F in the winter. I keep some gouldians in an outdoor mixed aviary, and they had no problem tolerating the summer heat. This will be my first winter with this aviary so I'll see how they weather the winter with a couple of heat lamps.

I think gouldians would do fine in your tropical climate.

[mondo]

I'm glad I asked
Now I'm more confident to keep some
thank you

do you think they'll fight or have trouble with the other inhabitants (java and canaries)?

[Rox]

I'm in the Western Cape, in South Africa. Our winters are mild temperature wise (seldom drops below zero) but our winters are very wet and extremely windy. I use clear plastic to close up the aviary's from the wind and rain. I have heat available in my aviary's but this is mainly for the waxbills. If you can keep your aviary dry and draft free, the gouldian's will be just fine outside

BUT try to get outdoor bred birds. My first gouldians were indoor bred and did not make it through their first winter. The temp changes were too extreme for them and I guess their immune system is not as strong as outdoor bred birds. I haven't had any problems with the outdoor bred gouldians.

Edited to add that they are fine with canaries. You just need to keep an eye on the Java sparrows. They can be pushy about nest boxes. But if your aviary is big enough, it should be fine

[mondo]

Rox vienneparis isobea Sally
thank you
I talked to my friend - a fellow bird enthusiast, he said the males may have no problem living outdoors, but the females are more vulnerable especially against winds... is this true? is there anything I can do to prevent this?
AND I understand gouldians have a special need for more iodine... what natural product can I feed to them or is it available in liquid form that I can mix in to their drinks or food?

[steve]

Rox

I am on the Highveld, below zero in winter sometimes, my Gouldians made it through last winter but I was worried everyday. What type of heating system do you have?

Steve

[Sally]

mondo Gouldian breeders either offer liquid iodine to their birds, or many of them simply have a small dish of powdered kelp in the cage, and the birds eat it free choice.

I believe all finches are vulnerable if they are exposed to winds/drafts and damp conditions, so if you can protect them from those factors, and have a heat lamp available for them to sit under, that would go a long way to help them through the coldest nights.

[Rox]

steve I have 2 very different aviary's. The one has metal sheeting on the roof and sides and gets very cold in winter. I mount 2 heat lamps in the aviary for these birds that face the main roosting area's. The second aviary is a flight attached to a wendy house. I made a heat lamp for these birds by using an old pot with a standard 60watt globe in it. It hangs over a paver and the birds can sit on top or underneath for warmth.

We don't get as cold as the Highveld but our winters are very wet and windy. I use clear plastic to close off the aviary's against the wind and rain.

@mondo I think the main concern with hens over winter is possible egg binding. I don't feed any extra iodine or kelp but I do add liquid calcium once a week in their water as a preventative. They key is to keep the aviary as dry and draft free as possible when it's cold.

[steve]

Rox

I was thinking about the Wendy set-up myself but if I put or build any more structures in my garden my Wife will kill me in my sleep. I will be installing heat lamps in the big Aviary and I will cover it up in the Winter for the wind. I must also set up a Hospital gage for any birds that look down/sick. Actually I must make a list, like you I am a slave to my birds.

Steve