Gouldian behaviour question?New strange behaviour

lovemyfinch · Post by **lovemyfinch** » Fri May 22, 2009 8:12 am

Wonderingabout the behaviours of my gouldians. He's calling her and she's answering. However, yesterday I noticed a behaviour that I am not sure about, every once in a while when they seem to go to cuddle together, it seems as though they are a 40 second sword fight with their beaks. Is this normal behaviour, or should I be worried?

By the way, she does spend a lot of time flittering her wings and her tail.

Post by **Sally** » Fri May 22, 2009 8:34 am

I see many of my finches do that same behavior. I think it is all part of the bonding process--I always seem to see it when they are cuddling.

lovemyfinch · Post by **lovemyfinch** » Fri May 22, 2009 8:44 am

Thanks Sally, I was really hoping that they were bonding and not bickering.

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:05 pm

This is definately normal courting behaviour. If they sword beak fight and the males back off then usually this means the female is not quite ready to be mounted. He backs off and tries again later. If they sword beak and the female flies away and the male pursues relentlessly then you may want to seperate them, where they still see each other but the female can not be harrassed by the male. Once she comes into breeding condition you can place them back together.If they sword beak and then sit side by side it is a bonding action. Don't be surprized if you see them heading to the nest together in the near future

Again, comparing them to cichlid fish breeding. The male and female will lock jaws in what appears to be an agressive tug of war or push fight. What is actually happening is that the female is gauging the strength of her male suitor and will pick the strongest. Most animals in the wild have some sort of way of testing the strength of their potential mate. This way the strongest pass on their genes. I believe that beak test fighting is a way for the female to gauge the strength and courage of her mate. He needs to be able to defend his nest and chicks

lovemyfinch · Post by **lovemyfinch** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:51 pm

Thanks Candace.

They are beak fighting and then still sitting close together.

Today I have caught him going in the nest at least 3 times. I can hear him moving around in there. They have not gone in together yet, but I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Hopefully within the next few weeks I will be able to hear the pitter patter of little wings. I am going to really try to control the peaking with these 2 , being as how from everything that I have read they are especially sensitive to this sort of thing.

Post by **Hilary** » Sun May 31, 2009 8:50 pm

If they are sitting together and he's checking out the nest I'd say you (or rather they) are good to go! Let us know how things go.

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:01 am

CandoAviary wrote:
Most animals in the wild have some sort of way of testing the strength of their potential mate.

Yep, the first wife used to slap me rotten

lovemyfinch · Post by **lovemyfinch** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:56 pm

New behaviour shown by the female. Has anyone ever seen a female Gouldian come out of the nest (after being in there with the male) flapping her wings like a crazy woman.

She hops from perch to perch all the while flailing her wings and tail feathers

. Almost like she just came out of her bath, except a little more furious.

I'll try to catch it on video. It is really hilarious

. (However, the first time I saw her do this I was worried.

)