FINCHforum

I am hoping to hear from those who have blue back gouldians.

Yesterday I bought my first one... a hen.
After purchasing it I went and talked with Lorraine from ladygouldian.com about the blues. She told me that she has absolutely no luck with them. She saidd that they are "weak" birds and require some extra care. She said something about because of the color their body doesn't absorb beta cara...something....

Does anyone out there have blues, how old are they and are they most difficult?

I really just wanted it to put into my aviary for color. I don't care if it breeds as I do not have a blue cock out there so no problem if it picks a mate.

Do they need anything different from the others?

I really respect Lorraine, but she was someone negative about them and I wondered if I had made a mistake.

I know poohbear had some and hopefully he will chime in here.

Hi:

I have 2 blue back Goulds and they are both VERY healthy. A lot of people don't think you should breed blue to blue because of weak birds but if your brids come from healthy lines I don't see it as a problem. I know where I bought my blues the lady has had great success with her blues and I wrote on this forum a few months ago the procedure that she does with adding wheat germ oil and cod liver oil to their seed 2 times per week. This is because the blues and silvers are to not be able to manufacture their own (something - forgot what it was). But the wheat germ and cod liver oil seem to take care of whatever the problem is.

I also think Liz on here started doing this and is now having blues sitting on eggs - at least the last time I heard.

Good luck - the blues are beautiful.

Terry

The blues do not seem to be as strong as the other mutations I personally found the hens particularly prone to feather loss...This is one a few months old.



The cocks are very striking though...



Wish I still had them

I have had two of them so far. Here is my first boy:



He is a RH WB BB. He is just a year old and I caught him courting the Yellow hen in the pic just the other day. I got him as a juvie even and not colored out yet and have had no issues with him at all. He is going through a molt right now and is singing away and even courting this lady. He is is awesome feather unless molting and fine health-wise in every other way.

My other one I had was a BH PB BB and was healthy too except that one of his wings drooped some. The breeder said it happened when he grabbed him out of his cage. Not sure if that was true or not and it never went away but he was fine. I never had any health problems with him either. I recently sold him to one of my friends who wants to try breeding him. Both of the ones I have owned have never been fathers yet but both of them are just around a year so a little young anyway.

I don't have any bad experiences with them only having two maybe that doesn't help? I have a friend who has had several and no issues with them either. Her one last I knew was 6 years old and fine. I hadn't heard that about the beta carotene thing. I have done nothing special with mine as far as diet at all. Are you sure yours is a BH Donna? I am sure it could be but I am thinking it could be a RH possibly. I guess they call them Straw Head since they don't express red. Your girl could still be filling in her feathers too. Nice looking bird and I wouldn't worry too much. I think she will be fine.

That's a shame to hear that Donna. I would respect Lorraine's opinion as well and Poohbears of course but I wonder why and I wonder if that goes for the other mutations linked to blue like silvers and pastels. I would definetly like to get some blues in the future as well.

Donna your blue female is beautiful and Gorgeous birds Poohbear. Ugh! that's a real shame!!
Renee

Thank you for all the quick comments. I do have some cod liver oil, but have not been able to find the wheat germ.

I thought she was a black head..... here is her picture.



She is a little small, but I thought it was because she was so young.
Her feathers nice and tight and she is very calm.... or scared to death one....

I'm sure she and the Twins are settling in well. She is going to be a beautiful Black Head, White Breast, Blue Backed Gouldian. Definitely a black head.

She has the black mask of the female but has lighter feathers inside the mask. She may still be getting some feathers there and be a BH or she may be a RH as they are not red in the blues they are more of a greyish-tannish color. Did you see my male up above? He is a RH. Notice how his feathers look greyish on his head inside the black mask. They call it Straw Head in the black. Either way whatever she is she is pretty!

I've had several gouldians over the years with droopy wings...nothing to do with catching them up...I think it's a genetic thing.

That is kind of what I thought poohbear. Since he is gone I guess I won't have to worry about that now. My other one looks so much nicer without the droopy wing.

Donna, I only have one BH, PB, BB cock. I was hoping to breed him to a normal split to blue hen, but all their eggs have been infertile. (3 clutches)

I was told if you're going to breed blues, it's better that that cock be blue versus the hen. Blue hens are weak? I'm not sure why, but this lady who has been breeding Gouldians for 30 years told me that.

Another friend has had fair luck with them. He's had a few juveniles who can't seem to molt into their adult colors completely.

I recently purchased a normal split to blue cock to pair with that hen. We'll see if her eggs will be fertile.

Thank you for that infor.....

unfortunately I bought a hen. My cocks outnumber the hens. We will just hope for the best. So far so good. She made the transition so that is good. I have her in a cage with the twinspots and she is eating and drinking well. I am going to put NV in her drink for the next week and slowly transition her over to the aviary.

dfcauley wrote:Thank you for all the quick comments. I do have some cod liver oil, but have not been able to find the wheat germ.

Here's a site that sells both cod liver oil and wheat germ oil online:

http://www.healthmartvitamins.com/shop/subcategory.asp?storeID=72PNJQKNC5SR2NM700AKHLBD3CHFAX6F&category_id=33&category=Essential+Fatty+Acids&OVRAW=wheat%20germ%20oils&OVKEY=wheat%20germ%20oil&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=517260522&OVKWID=1883325022

My Blue is loving the same things as my others. Maybe I spoil them? Just handle those babies with care and you will be just fine

The more I look at my blue hen (Lucy) the most I think you may be right birdcrazy...(sorry I forgot your first name)
Her face is outlined with black and the inside is straw color. I thought at first she had feathers missing, but she doesn't at all. It is a straw color all inside of her mask. Nonetheless, she is sweet and doing very well. She is chriping up a storm. I am treating her today for air sac mites as a prevenative to make sure all is well when she gets to join all the others in the aviary. I cannot wait to put her in there. I know she is gonna love it verses the cage.