My New Gouldians

For more specific questions related to the many varieties of captive finches.
User avatar
lovezebs
Mod Extraordinaire
Mod Extraordinaire
Posts: 18214
Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:51 am
Location: Calgary Alberta Canada

Re: My New Gouldians

Post by lovezebs » Mon Feb 15, 2016 3:45 am

Animalzoo

Good to hear that you managed all of that without too much ~X(

Regarding Baby V.... poor girl probably hasn't seen a mirror lately, or she'd be :shock: :-O :((

Wishing your babies the best of luck. The next few weeks/months, will be quite fascinating to watch their transformation.
~Elana~

Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~

User avatar
monotwine
Proven
Proven
Posts: 2872
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2009 7:50 am
Location: South Africa

Re: My New Gouldians

Post by monotwine » Mon Feb 15, 2016 8:04 am

Good on you for saving them.
I'd agree on all girls except the black head boy.

When you handle them again, if you can, spread each wing and hold it up to the light. IF they have possibly got feather lice you will see it clearly either moving or crusty eggs along feather shafts. Birds I've saved before that were restless shaking their feathers etc alot usually had a combo of mites and lice.
Scatt will sort out any mites. Lice will need to be sprayed directly with Insect spray as recommended above, as they don't always get killed by scatt.

I treat new birds much like you have, mites, worms and I add treatment for coccidiosis (intestinal parasite: symptoms are eating a lot and sleeping with head tucked back).

Good food and care should sort them out and by next season they will reward you with some beautiful new feathers.

User avatar
Animalzoo
Wonder Wooer
Wonder Wooer
Posts: 347
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2015 3:25 pm
Location: Alicante, Spain

Re: My New Gouldians

Post by Animalzoo » Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:29 pm

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooo............the new cage arrived. They have luxury!

Image

I inspected them all again when I moved them and treated again for mites. It's very subtle but they have improved since the last treatment. As per monotwine advice I checked their wings. No sign of lice, phew. Some are ok but others have dry skin all over including wings. Delivery of further mite treatment and deworming is still due but they are looking a little better, not fine but not worse.

Their new cage is next to my zebra/society cage and the UV lamp. It's this side they are all sitting. The girl with few wing feathers is far more confident in this cage and is hopping from perch to perch so is happily sitting with the others.

One girl, red head/white chest seems fine. No sign of mites or dryness. In the other smaller cage she was a little snappy with the others. I'm assuming in this bigger cage she will settle. She's the only one who has made any sounds.

The little vulture face doesn't have any growth yet on her head but is still active. I think the next molt will be interesting to see what happens. She's got a black head as there are teeny tiny feathers peeking through so can't wait to see her head fully feathered.

Here they are closer up.

Image

Image
Sue.x

debbie276
Bird Brain
Bird Brain
Posts: 14789
Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
Location: WV

Re: My New Gouldians

Post by debbie276 » Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:33 pm

Very nice!
I'm sure they will appreciate the extra room to fly and move about.
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)

GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56

User avatar
lnlovesorange
4 Eggs Laid
4 Eggs Laid
Posts: 801
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2015 5:10 pm
Location: Massachusetts

Re: My New Gouldians

Post by lnlovesorange » Mon Feb 22, 2016 12:04 pm

Animalzoo
That cage is magnificent!!! I'll bet they are LOVING IT!!! Especially from what they came from! I cannot wait to see the difference in them either, I'm sure it will be astounding (like lil Pim :lol: ) Their noise is kind of like if you roll your tongue, like touch it to the top of your mouth, and then add a little higher pitch noise in there but it's faint, it's VERY pretty... (i only have males, so I'm not sure about the female chirps) and then then have a high pitched whistle, but again, not very loud. My zebras drowned out the Gould noises all the time!!! LOL My little Squawkers meeping and beepin all day. I wanted to ask, how difficult was it to cut their nails? For some reason my gouldians nails are REALLY long. i got the special bird nail clippers, but I haven't done it b/c I'm petrified (and when I catch mine, they bite me!!!) LOL I say good for them, but it's not fun for me! But i've bought some rough perches to try to file them down but it didn't work, so I think I 'm going to have to cut them (btw, anyone know how/why this happens? like how their nails could have gotten so long when I got them they were just under a year old)? Let me know how trying it was... Thanks!!! And things look great btw, love that cage, keep up the good work, one thing about Goulds when you are "nursing"them back to health you can SEE the difference which is rewarding in itself!

User avatar
lovezebs
Mod Extraordinaire
Mod Extraordinaire
Posts: 18214
Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:51 am
Location: Calgary Alberta Canada

Re: My New Gouldians

Post by lovezebs » Tue Feb 23, 2016 4:39 pm

Animalzoo

Love the pictures , Sue.
I think K the kids will enjoy this new cage.
~Elana~

Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~

User avatar
Animalzoo
Wonder Wooer
Wonder Wooer
Posts: 347
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2015 3:25 pm
Location: Alicante, Spain

Re: My New Gouldians

Post by Animalzoo » Tue Feb 23, 2016 7:45 pm

lnlovesorange
They weren't too bad on the biting front. I have budgies and lovebirds too and trying to handle them can draw blood so a teeny tiny finch pinch is no problem hehe

I haven't bought special nail trimmers/scissors and some may gasp at me but I have just used ordinary human nail clippers. You know you can get the mini versions, just one of them.

I used to clip my dogs nails (with doggy nail scissors) and am aware that you can only go so far down the nail before you cut the nail bed/blood vessels which HURTS!

Luckily finch nails are see through so its easy to see the blood vessel which you don't go near. I found it was primarily the rear toe nail that was the worst followed by the front ones. Once you clamp their tiny leg between your fingers they do hold still long enough to quickly snip the nails.

I used to use those rough perches but find they soil too easily and when they get wet following their baths they lose all sandy layers and just become a roll of cardboard over the perch. One thing I have done is to use a cuttle bone placed horizontally with a food bowl or water bottle next to it so they use the cuttle bone as a perch and voila, they nip at it and grip it with their feet at the same time.
Sue.x

User avatar
Animalzoo
Wonder Wooer
Wonder Wooer
Posts: 347
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2015 3:25 pm
Location: Alicante, Spain

Re: My New Gouldians

Post by Animalzoo » Tue Feb 23, 2016 7:53 pm

lovezebs

They're in heaven! Although I think they are still a little clumsy and jumpy. They sit still and perch an awful lot on the side next to the zebras and the UV lamp but their appetite is amazing. I can put an entire leaf of romain in there and in hours its gone! They demolish the eggs and are always on the seeds too. Hungry little kids!!

I can't wait for the worming and mite treatments to come through the post. Im in the pet shops every now and then and see bottles on the shelf I could be buying but I've already spent a small fortune on the proper good stuff so I'm waiting. I think they are just a little uncomfortable with dry skin and maybe even their appetite is so good thanks to worms. I don't know though but one thing is for sure they love baths! 8)

There is one though who must be feeling better than the others as she's getting bossy. The cage is a good size that they can pop onto another perch get away but I need to watch out for her.

On a positive note, I'm not sure if its just me hoping for it too much but I think vulture face has a few tiny feathers coming through on her face. [-o<

I've got a surprise to show you all tomorrow too so keep an eye out for a new post..... :wink:
Sue.x

User avatar
Sam007
Weaning
Weaning
Posts: 1411
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2012 10:46 pm
Location: TX

Re: My New Gouldians

Post by Sam007 » Tue Feb 23, 2016 9:38 pm

Congrats on the new cage. :)
I love Gouldian Finches.

User avatar
lovezebs
Mod Extraordinaire
Mod Extraordinaire
Posts: 18214
Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:51 am
Location: Calgary Alberta Canada

Re: My New Gouldians

Post by lovezebs » Tue Feb 23, 2016 10:22 pm

Animalzoo

Glad to hear that the kids are enjoying their new home, and all the good food (let's hope that their appetite is not due to worms). Baths, are wonderful for their feathers, so it's good that they are enjoying them.

So who's the bossy lady?

Looking forward to the surprise tomorrow .... =D>
~Elana~

Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~

User avatar
slwatson
Proud Parent
Proud Parent
Posts: 1198
Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2015 11:29 am
Location: Texas

Re: My New Gouldians

Post by slwatson » Wed Feb 24, 2016 11:24 am

Animalzoo

I love the blue breast color of the green back gouldian....maybe it's just the picture, but I've never seen that shade of blue on a gouldian. Very pretty!
Stacie
Look up Tweets & Beaks on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Tweets-Beaks-1 ... 0/?fref=ts

debbie276
Bird Brain
Bird Brain
Posts: 14789
Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
Location: WV

Re: My New Gouldians

Post by debbie276 » Wed Feb 24, 2016 3:03 pm

slwatson wrote: Animalzoo

I love the blue breast color of the green back gouldian....maybe it's just the picture, but I've never seen that shade of blue on a gouldian. Very pretty!
That color is because of lack of proper light or nutrition. The gouldian has a white Breast but it looks bluish because of melanism.
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)

GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56

User avatar
Spreckles
3 Eggs Laid
3 Eggs Laid
Posts: 782
Joined: Tue Nov 03, 2015 11:03 am
Location: Byram, Mississippi

Re: My New Gouldians

Post by Spreckles » Wed Feb 24, 2016 6:44 pm

What's the latest?

User avatar
Animalzoo
Wonder Wooer
Wonder Wooer
Posts: 347
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2015 3:25 pm
Location: Alicante, Spain

Re: My New Gouldians

Post by Animalzoo » Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:13 pm

debbie276 wrote:
slwatson wrote: Animalzoo

I love the blue breast color of the green back gouldian....maybe it's just the picture, but I've never seen that shade of blue on a gouldian. Very pretty!
That color is because of lack of proper light or nutrition. The gouldian has a white Breast but it looks bluish because of melanism.
Oh, he's meant to be white breasted!? I thought it was a purple breast showing white instead?
Sue.x

User avatar
Animalzoo
Wonder Wooer
Wonder Wooer
Posts: 347
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2015 3:25 pm
Location: Alicante, Spain

Re: My New Gouldians

Post by Animalzoo » Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:31 pm

The bossy lady is the red head and white breasted girl. This one....

Image

She's certainly having a go at the others but with so much space its not a big problem.

Here are some today...
Image



AND.


My news, is, 2 new happy healthy really pretty bonded adult pairs!


Image

Image

Image

The colour of this new greeny/yellow one is beautiful too! I was lacking in orange heads so I fell in love with these. They are in separate cages and not with the others, and these are active, bubbly and NOW I can hear their little chirps =D>

They were starting to nest at the shop, so I want to provide a nest asap but question....what nest boxes do you all use? Do Gouldians prefer wide openings or are the round holes ok? Can I use the same style nest boxes as I use for the Zebras or Societies?

SO, what do you think!!!??? :lol:
Sue.x

Post Reply