How difficult/fragile are gouldians?

flyover · Post by **flyover** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 1:12 pm

I am considering adding gouldians to my large flight cage (60"L x 18"D x 30"H). I hope to upgrade to a larger cage or small indoor aviary in the near future.

Currently living peaceably in the cage are two societies, two diamond doves, and one canary.

I keep reading that gouldians are extremely susceptible to stress and temperature, but other people have told me that they are really not that delicate.

My cage is in a sun room that I keep between 65 and 70 in the winter. Is this too cold for a gouldian?

The cage is busy. The doves and canary are quite calm, but the societies do lots of flitting and occasionally bicker with each other. Is this too much action for gouldians?

I have dogs that bark really loud. Is this going to startle the gouldians into heart attacks?

Also, I am not interested in breeding. Thoughts on two males? Or a m/f pair that doesn't result in babies?

I am headed to a regional bird fair on Sunday, so I have some options to weigh. Thanks!

debbie276 · Post by **debbie276** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:45 pm

In my opinion gouldians are not as delicate as some think. There are a few things to consider in your situation. The cage doesn't seem big enough for all of those birds to be together.
I house my gouldians in an aviary as low as 50 degrees but that was after they were well acclimated to those temps.
I don't think the activity of the birds nor your dogs barking are going to give them a heart attack.
2 male gouldians will do very well together, as would 2 hens. If you have male and female and don't want chicks you should be prepared to throw out any eggs which is very hard for some to do.
Have fun at the bird fair and let us know what if anything you get.

good luck

flyover · Post by **flyover** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:56 pm

Thanks Debbie.

I think the flight cage is probably fairly full as well. (I'll try to attach a photo.)

I do have a set of three standard flight cages that are only 30" long. I might use one of those instead - or maybe attempt connecting two of them to offer more horizontal flight space.

debbie276 · Post by **debbie276** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 3:32 pm

Nice cage! Do you have a pair of diamond doves? Mine bred like rabbits, cutest little chicks.

Post by **lovezebs** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 1:36 am

flyover

Debbie, already gave you answers to your questions.
All I can do is add my two cents worth.
I really don't find Gouldians to be any more delicate than any other species. I keep mine indoors with my other birds at 18-23c, and they do really well.

If you don't want to breed, I would go with 2 males. They have a cute whispery/lispy song which you might enjoy.

Good luck

~Elana~

cjkrit · Post by **cjkrit** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 1:42 am

They are hardy if acclimatised properly.
I keep mine in an outside aviary and last year we had minus 12 degrees C.
Not a single one lost due to the cold.

dutch · Post by **dutch** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 3:28 am

cjkrit

-12 celsius....hell they are champion goulds...maybe related to my flock

Post by **Sally** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 11:44 am

flyover wrote: I am headed to a regional bird fair on Sunday, so I have some options to weigh. Thanks!

@flyover Would you mind giving me information on that bird fair, so I can add it to the Calender? I haven't seen anything about a bird fair in Minnesota, and I'm sure other members from that area would love to learn about it as well.

Post by **Sally** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 11:50 am

Years ago, I fastened two 30x18x36 cages together to make a flight 60x18x36, and I had a pair of Diamond doves and several pairs of Zebra finches in it. The only problem I had is that every time the doves flew from one end of the cage to the other, the Zebras went to the opposite end, they acted like they were afraid of the doves. I finally gave up, moved the doves to their own flight cage, and then the Zebras calmed down.

I agree with the others that adding two Gouldians to your flight cage would be too many. Putting two of those 30x18x18 cages together makes a nice cage for them, many members have done this.

flyover · Post by **flyover** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 12:42 pm

Sally - The bird fair is the Saint Paul Bird Fair, which is actually held in Cottage Grove, a nearby suburb. Here is the link:

http://www.stpaulbirdfair.com/

The Facebook page has more info:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3561004 ... 1/?fref=ts

The organizer, Emily, does a really nice job. It is really busy. I've been three times before. Large parrots, cockatiels, budgies, canaries, doves, button quail, and multiple kinds of finches.

Yes, I think I will connect my cages and eventually make that my finch space. The canary, two diamond doves, and two Bourke's parakeets (now living in a separate cage) are probably all better suited to each other in size and temperament.

I'll try to attach a photo of the current stacked set-up that I could convert into a long horizontal flight space.

@cjkrit - 12 below zero C? That's 10 Fahrenheit! I didn't even know that it got that cold in South Africa! I will not subject any of my birds to the MN winter. It's considerably worse.

@lovezebs - I think I will go with the two male Gouldians. I used to have two male zebras and was endlessly amused by them and their sounds.

lnlovesorange · Post by **lnlovesorange** » Thu Mar 12, 2015 9:29 am

flyover Deffinitely let me know how your bird fair goes, and if you get Gould's b/c I have 3 gouldy's promised to me (currently have 6 Zebs, parents are raising 4 babies) the Gould's I bought a 30X21X37 cage on a stand I'm going to put the Gould's in there together, and then hopefully someday...(a girl can dream) I will get enough room to attach to cages, or get a standing aviary and put them all together!!! But until then, the way my set up is, they have to be in separate cages. But yes, please let us know what happens and if you get Gouldians especially, I would love to see pictures!!! And any Gouldian questions not answered here check our Larraine she's pretty smart her website is https://ladygouldian.com/

TailFeathers · Post by **TailFeathers** » Thu Mar 12, 2015 10:22 am

cjkrit wrote: They are hardy if acclimatised properly.
I keep mine in an outside aviary and last year we had minus 12 degrees C.
Not a single one lost due to the cold.

I'm assuming your outdoor aviary is covered partially, correct?

tobyrosie · Post by **tobyrosie** » Thu Mar 12, 2015 10:14 pm

I've had 3 gouldians since the end of December. They are our first birds. They have been great. We have two barking dogs and the birds are fine. Our house goes down to 63 at night.

MariusStegmann · Post by **MariusStegmann** » Fri Mar 13, 2015 2:37 am

From all that I heard about Gouldians, the cold does not kill them, but drafts will.

cjkrit · Post by **cjkrit** » Sat Mar 14, 2015 2:30 pm

TailFeathers,
Yes about half roofed and also behind glass to keep drafts out.

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