** FINALLY GOT MY GOULDIANS**

[6finchfriends]

They are all beautiful but Moonbeam's colors are striking. Good luck on the nesters and babies! Hope you see some glowing nodules soon!

[annague]

Why thank you, Trish, me too! Monique, I am looking forward to being a gouldian junkie. Colorin, thanks for your interest -- I will definitely keep all my FF friends updated on this thread as things progress!

[CandoAviary]

Did I miss the post of gouldian babies?? Are they grown and colored up yet??? Inquiring minds want to know

[DanteD716]

I am a bit late, but those goulds are beautiful!!!

[annague]

Hi Candace and all,

I have had nothing but problems for about two months with my laptop and internet so I apologize but have kind of been out of touch here.

Briefly: I lost my hens -- loved those girls too it was hard (but I lost them not through any problems with them but due to my own inexperience with gouldians). I went back and Misty was generous enough to trust me with some more of her gorgeous girls -- all green back this time. I then purchased the nicest gouldians I could find locally because I lost all my blue/silvers and really wanted more color options.

I have been waiting for beaks to blacken and have recently set my pairs up again (including my beautiful boys Flame and Sundance. )

So... they have been set up for a bit now (about a month) and I have had two clutches of unfertilized eggs from Flame and his hen while Sundance and his hen have had some relationship issues -- she doesn't want to let him into the nest and won't breed with him so she's laying unfertilized eggs -- he doesn't want any of my other hens nor will she look at another male I have. (Sigh).

So... I have some lovely gouldian babies (7 in one clutch so far) from a local buy (yellow headed green back and yellow back pair) but none from Misty's superior gene pool yet.

I have hopes that Flame and his hen (who appear highly compatible and cooperative) will work out their breeding issues. I'm not sure about Sundance and his girl.

I have also learned a bunch more about gouldians psychologically. Here is my take:(profound I'm sure): Gouldians are socially much more complex than any of my other finches. They are really picky about their mates and so individual that there truly has to be compatibility for any chance at success. And, darn, they take a ton of patience... those girls are not in any hurry to start nesting even with black beaks and when they respond to the boys and are obviously compatible. I will say, though, that I think it is because the gouldians are scary smart. They are thinking little dudes and dudettes... and I really like them.

I'm just not sure when I might get babies... as Misty has told me it can take days, weeks or months when they don't choose their own.

[CandoAviary]

I am so sorry for all your troubles and really sorry that you lost some
I know that must of been heart wrenching. Sorry for Misty too... It is always hard to loose them even after you have sold them and sent them on... never, ever easy.

I started with greenbacks and think they are a best start with newbies... though I don't consider you a newbie at all!!!! You have bred tons of parrots, CB, etc and those are many times more difficult than gouldians... at least in my setup and experience. Sounds like you are doing great with your locals... 7 in one clutch is outstanding and I love the yellows... don't get me wrong, I like the blues and silvers but much prefer the greens and yellows anyday
I will be looking forward to some pictures..and more post since your laptop is back online. I have missed you

[annague]

Thank you, Candace, you have always been an inspiration to me not only with your birds but with all your interesting projects.

Unfortunately it looks like I spoke too soon since I had to take my laptop back in today for issues and am responding on my cell which I detest using for blogs.

I have had bumper crop of beautiful parrot finch babies this season but have cut back on some of my other species to focus on the ones I really enjoy the most like the gouldians, bccbs, rccbs, owls,societies and rtpf's. So far the gouldians are whipping me.