Gouldian finchs!!

perrysbirds · Post by **perrysbirds** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:10 pm

Hi all,

I recently got a pair of Gouldians from a friend and this type of finch is quite new to me.Anyways they have nested and yesturday I noticed there was a chick in the nest.It was right on schedule for the first egg to hatch

.
Is there anything special I should be doing now.I didnt check the nest today as I didnt want to disturb them.I have no experience with gouldians what so ever.Im giving them a mixure of CEDE with some grated carrotts and brocolli.This works for my canaries so I thought I would give it a go for the gouldians.I also have been giving them spray millet.
Just trying to learn about these gouldians and hopefully I am getting some begginers luck here!

Thanks Perry

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:21 pm

Perry
Have you checked out the finch information center has all the info on them
http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/ ... _finch.php
One thing they really don't like nest checks or any one bothering them. I am not familiar with cede is that a form of egg food ? they really need egg food or just hard boil a egg and mash with a fork ,Some use A food processor shell and all.

perrysbirds · Post by **perrysbirds** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:23 pm

Yes CEDE is an eggfood and it is quite popular here in Ontario along with Orlux.

Post by **Hilary** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:51 am

Congrats! I give all of my feeding parents fresh eggfood as well as the dried (unless you're moistening the cede?). I think the additional moisture from the fresh egg or from moistened dried eggfood makes it easier on the parents. No basis in fact, of course, but if you figure that they're providing everything to the chicks as well as trying to get enough food/water for themselves, I think it makes sense. They work hard enough as it is! The carrots and broccoli probably help with that as well. Lucky you that they eat well for you!

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:27 am

Congrats and good luck! I always provide my gouldians with charcoal and powdered kelp. Raising babies takes alot out of them.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:15 am

all the best with the youngster

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:38 pm

Congrats, Good Luck!!

perrysbirds · Post by **perrysbirds** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 2:45 pm

Well Lads To say I am gutted is an understatement.I went out to do some cleaning in my birdroom and when I pulled out the tray from the gouldian cage there were three dead babies on the floor leaving just 3 eggs to hatch out.I guess they wouldnt feed them or something.I took the last three eggs and put them in with a society finch which is sitting on a couple of eggs.The gould eggs are full and I do expect them to hatch out.I am hoping the society finch can make it happen.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:51 pm

Hi Perry - sounds like your Gouldians may be young and learing to be parents. New parents may toss eggs or chicks. It's a learning curve for them. Good that you have Societes on the ready.

I think I know you also from another finch forum. I'm just around the corner from you - in Barrie.

Good luck for the rest of the eggs.

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:26 pm

Sorry to hear your loss, hopefully the societies will do better with the 3 remaining eggs.

FinchezRule · Post by **FinchezRule** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:38 pm

Sorry to hear about the babies dying....I have a pair that have had 4 or 5 clutches and have never raised them with success. I try to not let them breed but they always sneak into a nest and set house so quickly. Once the eggs are laid I feel too bad to throw them out, and I never had a foster pair set up so I would always let them try again....I don't think they're ever going to get the hang of it

I hope yours do a better job the next time around then mine have done....Good luck!!! I know how upsetting it is when we lose little babies.

Post by **Sally** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:18 pm

There's nothing quite so heart-wrenching as when you find those tiny dead bodies on the bottom of the cage, and it's too late for you to do anything. It is probably just inexperience on the part of the parents, and they will get the hang of it.

BirdCrazy · Post by **BirdCrazy** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:13 pm

A lot of the time breeding finches really stinks with the loss of so many babies. Sorry for the loss of your babies. I guess that makes us appreciate the ones we do have successfully even more. Better luck next time!

perrysbirds · Post by **perrysbirds** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 7:21 pm

Ok,this might sound weird but I had 3 babies kicked out of the nest 2 or 3 days ago.I then placed the other 3 eggs under a society finch and for the last couple of days the eggs didnt hatch out.I was just in my birdroom and I can see that one of the eggs is cracked and there is movement inside the egg.Should have those eggs started to hatch a couple of days ago?Maybe I will get lucky here, but I am not counting chickens just yet!
Interesting!

bonnies_gouldians · Post by **bonnies_gouldians** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 7:29 pm

Interesting in deed. My gouldians laid two more eggs almost a week after they laid their first three. If yours laid three and started incubating them, then laid three more starting a few days after they began incubating, then they would have a break in between hatch dates...I dont know if that made sense 'cause I confused myself typing it...just a thought though.