Can I do anything else...

[Foosa101]

Hello,

I have only had my breeding pair of Gouldians for 3 months (first experience with finches or birds altogether) and I am hoping they will have another clutch this year. They had a clutch that was fledging when I purchased them.

I have listed below all of the food that they have access to below:

*Fresh Browntop millet seed (farm fresh and organic)
*Fresh Japanese millet seed (farm fresh and organic)
*spray millet (store bought)
*store bought premium finch blend. They don't seem to like as much as the Browntop Millet which they devour.

Also, I have sprouted Alfalfa, Browntop Millet, Regalgraze White Ladino Clover, and a mix of Brassica (purple top turnip, kale, and rape) seeds that I leave in the cage and rotate every other day.

Outside of seeds (sprouted or not), I leave kale leaves in a dish along with hard boiled egg shell daily. Along with grit, cuttle-bone, and of course freshwater.

The only thing that I know I need to get is a mineral block, which I plan to get this week but is there anything else I can do or am I doing to much?

I just want the best for my Gouldians and thank you for any information in advance.

[dfcauley]

Sounds like your birds are getting a wonderful diet! Do they eat the eggfood? I have found that mine will not eat it. NO matter what I do..... but they love the miracle meal and birdie bread I make them.

The only other things I could suggest is perhaps some charcoal, kelp and egg shells crushed.....

Good luck in breeding them and keep us posted!

[L in Ontario]

I agree - eggfood with the shell is the best food you can give a pair of finches to prepare and breed! Mine can't get enough of it!

[mickp]

mine prefer the egg shells crushed & mixed with cuttlefish and also charcoal. crushed oyster shell is added when available.

[Foosa101]

Thank you for all of your responses! I didn't expect to receive so much feedback in so little time - this was my first post!

I have tried to give them egg food several times but they don't seem to touch it. They love the shell but not the actual food its self. I have seen several different recipes on how to incorporate this into their diet but do you have any suggestions?

What I have been doing is: Hard boiling eggs for 10-12 minutes and letting them cool. Then crushing both the shell and the egg (separately) and then placing the shell in one location of the cage and the egg food in another. I haven't mixed the two b/c I don't like to leave the egg food in the cage for more than a couple of hours for fear that it will spoil.

I just found the miracle meal online and am going to order now. As for the other items mentioned, I am going to try and find them locally.

Another question - sorry to ask so much - is when should I cut back on their diet? In the fall? Or am I feeding them a balanced base diet now?

Thanks again for all your help!!

[Foosa101]

Okay, I have been busy getting everything and this is what I have gotten so far. I purchased everything from this site (ladygouldian.com) and I spoke with Laraine and she extremely nice and took the time to answer ALL of my questions. My order arrived within ONE business day.

So this is what I purchased:
Miracle Meal
Hatched Egg Shell
F-Vite
Charcoal
Breeders Blend

Will the F-vite and the Hatched Egg Shell replace the grit,cuttlebone, and hard boiled eggshell that I have in the cage?

[lovemyfinch]

I always leave the cuttlebone in the cages regardless.
The hatched can replace the eggshell, however, I always have crushed eggshell mixed in the eggfood and then a dish of eggshells on the side just in case they feel the need for more.

[Foosa101]

Thank you and I will keep additional shell in the cage and, from what I have seen so far, they seem to like the egg shell better than the hatched. Then again, it's only been a day.

In case you didn't see my other post - MY HEN LAID HER FIRST EGG YESTERDAY - and I am on my way home to check for another. I am overwhelmed with joy!

Thank You!!

[Foosa101]

She was laying in the nest so I could not tell if there was another egg but she IS SITTING on the one. So, I am happy!

[L in Ontario]

Excellent - best not to disturb them.

[Foosa101]

As much as my curiosity is killing me to know I will wait until she ventures out to see if there's another one in there.