A Spanish friend had told us of a pet store in a nearby village that catered for all types of pets from cats, dogs, to small birds and chickens/turkeys/geese etc. They also had supplies for horses all sorts. This place is off the beaten track, run privately and not for the mainstream commercial traffic. Therefore, prices are low and very good! So, we went there aiming to find some bargain priced canaries and or love birds (as we're getting into these too). Personally I had given up on gouldians because all the local private breeders we had contacted didnt have any birds left to sell. To my surprise this place had them!
However, I wasn't impressed at all at their condition and immediately my welfare and rescue hat went on. I have no idea what gouldians cost in the US but prices here have ranged from 50€ per 1 to the lowest today at 25€ for 1. They had 3 in a cage who to be fair looked ok, 2 greens and one yellow although the yellow looked washed out. He said these were 2016(?).....though I thought that cannot be right as their colours do not come through that well until they are, what, say 3 months old or more, making them 2015 surely??
Then he had in these teeny tiny what I would class as travel cages 6 more, one per cage. He told us these were last years birds. These poor little creatures looked very sorry for themselves. I immediately chose 2 out of the selection I preferred the colours. I looked closely at the others and I think they had mites, their legs and feet were crusty and from my experience with my budgies and mites, they looked suspiciously similar. In fairness the ones I've chosen probably also have mites, I can treat them for that though, they dont look too far gone. But there was this one.....OMG, the poor thing. Its head was completely bald, not even one tiny feather! I pointed him out to my boyfriend and said I would pay any money to rescue it to hospitalise it and put it into immediate recuperation and therapy, but then I got angry and said no! He should give us this one for free as he will never sell it!
I know rule of thumb is never to buy any birds who are unhealthy.....but I got angry and wasnt leaving without them. Give him his due my boyfriend asked for more birds for the 50€ and pointed out the balding bird but the guy wouldnt budge. Nasty human! If any of the other breeds had been in a poor state I would have walked out. As it happens his canaries and lovebirds were fine. I didnt buy those as the price wasnt right and I didnt like their colours.
But, those poor poor gouldians. I know some of you may think I'm stupid for spending so much money on these birds but I put it into optimistic perspective. They were on a simple seed only diet. No greens, vitamins or supplements so of course their condition, feathers and colour will drop. Who knows how long they had lived like this. So with me, all will change. I spend a lot of time daily for my birds and they all receive a mixture of greens and egg food. These two today have probably been given food they have never seen in their life! I've posted photos below to show you. The male appears on the surface ok. The female is a different matter, her nails are way too long and I'm leaving a few days for them to settle before I trim them. In the meantime I've given them one of those coarse perches for their nails and beak. Shes a little scruffy as well. I even placed a bath on the side, again perhaps the first time they have seen a bowl of water to play in.
A quick question for you gouldian keepers though, I assume I am ok keeping them in the same cage (male & female that is)? Its just they were beak pecking at each other when they were on the same perch. Dont get me wrong, possible a life in a 6" cage with one perch makes life very small for them so suddenly a mansion of a cage with lots of places to sit AND a friend is strange. Are they meant to get along? I'm referring more to mixing the male and female.
Also, later on today I found a great canary breeder (puts this shop into perspective). He knows of the Gouldians and has ties with breeders. He said no one will have birds now as it's 'not the right season for them'. Ever heard of this? He said breeders will have eggs and young chicks at the moment, so in a few months young birds will be ready. I didnt know there were seasons to breed them in? Unless this is a Spanish thing???
Here, what do you think....
