Tips for teaching Gouldians to use an unusual seed feeder?

[Stephanie]

Hi

I have a seed feeder that I really like, but I'm not confident that the Gouldians have figured out how to use it. All of the other species have figured it out; it requires them to peck above their heads to release seed from a gap.

It's been two months and still I've never seen the Gouldians do this. They rely on the other birds knocking a few seeds down for them - and on me knocking a whole pile of seed down for them every day because I'm paranoid about them not getting enough food!

It's very dangerous for finches to go without food so I am unwilling to use the 'let them go hungry and they'll figure it out' system that works with other animals!

Any ingenious tips for helping my Gouldians learn to use this unusual feeder please? I can't keep releasing seed for them every day, forever more!

[debbie276]

I've got no clue how to make them use it but it does sound like an interesting type of feeder. Do you have a picture or web link you could share so I can see what it looks like?
I wouldn't even suggest 'let them go hungry and they'll figure it out' I know how stubborn gouldians can be. What type of birds have figured it out?
Hope you can figure out how to get them to use it, sorry I wasn't of much help.

[kenny66]

I know of one hobbyist who did buy a very ornate feeder that only let small amounts of seed out (one seed at a time) and the birds had to peck it to get that one seed. It was exhausting for the birds, who did not like it and one bird unfortunately appeared to have starved to death because it couldnt get the hang of it. My experience is that Gouldians have a natural reluctance to feed above their heads in any event, and making food difficult to access apart from the height of the feeder may be an issue for them. They also can be very stubborn about new foods and feeders. Some of mine will not eat out of certain shaped dishes and avoid change. I am not aware of the feeder you have, which might be perfectly fine, but the one thing I do make sure of is that food and water is completely accessible with little effort within my aviaries. That small active body, with a heart beating 300 times per minute needs a lot of constant fuel. perhaps you might consider putting seed in a conventional seed dish for the Gouldians whilst leaving your other feeder in place. That way they might eventually copy the other birds. A pic of the feeder would be helpfull. Best of luck.

[Stephanie]

This is the feeder. There's an opening all the way around - you can see a red bird reaching up into the gap, while the others peck the fallen seed: http://www.facebook.com/notes/mst7/best ... 0267738827

I love this feeder but the finches have mixed opinions:
- Zebras and Parrot Finches all learned to use it, no problem.
- Small Waxbills are too small to use it. They can't reach up to the gap so rely on seed knocked down by other birds.
- Gouldians are the perfect size to use it but simply won't.

[finchmix22]

That is an unusual feeder. I would probably add another choice for the gouldians. I find it is more important for me to meet the finches style, than to try to force them to fit into m style, since we are keeping them captive. Good Luck.

[Sally]

That is certainly an unusual feeder, I've never seen one like that before. I agree with the others, you have to accommodate the birds. I love the gravity-type seed hoppers, yet I've had a few birds who just don't seem to get it. I have even seen them hanging by the side of the feeder, and I've heard them pecking at the plastic sides, trying to get at the seed they can see. So for those, I have to use a different type feeder, one that the bird will use. Doesn't make me happy, but then it doesn't matter what I think.