Tell me the why's on Gouldian ownership.....?

[debbie276]

My gouldians all line up together at night to sleep in a row touching each other. They also feed other pairs chicks when they fledge, I even have older fledglings feeding younger fledglings. I think the only thing I've never seen them do is preen each other. Other then that they all hang out and do things together like a flock.

[annague]

Cool. That's neat to know, debbie276! I am starting to like them even better now!

I guess, from the video recently posted on the sexlife of gouldians you've got to be careful how you pair them, though...?

[CandoAviary]

That video has been around for a while and has been discussed on the forum a bit. Most people have bred their black heads to red heads without incident.
One of the older post on this subject:
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... ilit=Pryke
I set up 4 pair of red heads in a colony aviary without any other birds. Thought I would see the male/female sex ratio for myself. For the ones that survived (colony situation caused many abandonments, and nest take overs) the male/female ratio was no difference from my other head color parings... Of course my little experiment was based on about 25 birds...unlike Dr. Pryke's with some 2000. Anyway, I wouldn't worry too much with the head colors.

[Meagan83]

People have mentioned how laid back they are. I think they mellow as they mature, but the juvies are a hoot! They are VERY inquisitive once they are on their own. Mine love to dangle upside down from fake plants, and swing in swings like a parakeet, and they love to be the first to check out goodies in the treat bowl. And, no, mine are not raised by societies. I put them in my flight with other species and other goulds and they really come out of their shell. I have never had any other young finches be as playful as my goulds. I also love when they listen and watch the others sing. They sidle up and lean in real close, sometimes even stepping on tails to listen. It's adorable.

[annague]

awww........ that sounds so cute!

Like little (human) kids listen to their parents telling a story

[dfcauley]

I agree with everything Meagan said. My gouldian juvies are the most curious little creatures in the aviary. They are adorable! They love plants!

But.... when they have matured and get down to the business of raising their own little family they do calm down and get a bit snotty!

[Meagan83]

But.... when they have matured and get down to the business of raising their own little family they do calm down and get a bit snotty!

LMAO! T'is true.

[KoacNation]

one thing I have loved about my goulds is how one of the two females I had lost her mate.

The other pair just had chicks fledge.

The lone female soon started helping to feed the chicks and within a week was the only adult feeding the chicks.

Those little ones chased her around everywhere to get more food from her.

It was so cool to see her find a role after losing her mate and the chicks parents seemed to just sit back and let her feed em.

It's like the other parents knew she needed to be a part of something and they let it happen.

[Meagan83]

one thing I have loved about my goulds is how one of the two females I had lost her mate.

The other pair just had chicks fledge.

The lone female soon started helping to feed the chicks and within a week was the only adult feeding the chicks.

Those little ones chased her around everywhere to get more food from her.

It was so cool to see her find a role after losing her mate and the chicks parents seemed to just sit back and let her feed em.

It's like the other parents knew she needed to be a part of something and they let it happen.

I had a hen do this also. She and her mate had two dud clutches, so I separated them for a break. I put two juvies in with her and she began feeding them. Sometimes they would be full, but if they peeped she would run to them and touch beaks as if expecting to feed them and they would sort of scoot away, like "no thanks I'm full". lol. It was precious that she was so devoted to someone elses babies. I guess she was fulfilling that instinct after not becoming a mommy herself.

[annague]

I really want to get a pair where the hens are as sweet as you describe -- I'm sure a lot of that is hereditary.

Do you notice any difference in their attitudes compared to their head colors?

[franny]

I've had my pair for a couple of months now. I have to take exception to the "Not the sharpest crayon in the box" comment! I've had a Buddy Waterer for a couple of years now, and every couple of months I'd take it out and try to convince my Goldbreast and Society finches that it was not going to hurt them, and that, yes, there was water in there! Never had any luck, and finally just packed it away about 4 months ago.

Well when my Gouldians joined the group, I thought to get it out and try it again. Well it took them all of a week, to decide it was the best thing ever! And not only that, they taught my other birds to use it too!

And not only are they gorgeous to look at, my male sings as sweetly as any canary! Only just a tad quieter, which suits me perfectly, since they are in my living room.

I agree with everyone else who says they are laid back. They get along wonderfully with my other two, and there has never been so much as a single squabble. I guess the only thing that's kind of sad is that they don't preen each other. (I love to watch my little GB preen her friend the Society finch. ) But they do sit as close together as they can possibly get, when it's time to go to bed at night.

I can't believe I didn't get a pair of them years ago!

[lovemyfinch]

This morning I was watching my pairs and thought of something else. Their courtship At lights on, just watch them, the boys all bow down and rub their beaks on their chests..stand up ever so tall...hop up and down and belt it out. The receptive hen, will either sit and stare while listening, flit her tail up and down ever so quickly And this morning, well my little Sweetpea who lost her mate last year while she was going through her molt, and never seemed to like anyone else that I picked for her well I gave her one of my home grown studs, Patience, 10 months old. She bobbed her tail and hopped up and down right on back , all the while bobbing her head like him Now who couldn't love a sight like that

[CandoAviary]

I agree Janine I think the goulds have the cutest courtship of all the finches that we normally keep in captivitiy.

[annague]

Now I'm really anxious to get a pair.

I really like the silver back ones and the more unusual softer colors that I've seen but I think the most important thing to me is that they are parent-raised many generations so that they have that parenting gene and will take care of their own chicks (at least when they get the right age).

I've heard they are exceptionally susceptible to mites, though??

I do have one last request -- anybody who has a gouldian that they think is an exceptional beauty -- can you post a picture and tell me what you like about their colors? Since beauty is the main draw I'm going to have a hard time choosing a pair or two but I want to get some really exceptional beauties when I do...

(see, I'm kind of a "lookist" too, I guess)

[lovemyfinch]

Now that is going to be a hard order to fill As each and every gould is an exceptional beauty on his/her own. If ever I was told, you can keep just one of your gouldians the rest have to go, they would all pass away of old age before the choice could be made