Possible Gouldian newbie with questions..

[alfdtuna]

Hey Folks,
I discovered the beautiful Gouldians several years ago at a local pet shop here in the Houston area a few years back and have done a good bit of research on requirements, but am still not convinced they are for me. I love alone with a dog and large reef aquarium hence its pretty quiet around here. First question.. is normal household temps acceptable (70-80 degrees) without humidifiers and/or a special room exclusively climate controlled? Second, does it seem that these brids are getting more 'heartier' the longer they are captive bred? I had Zebras when I was young thats about it. Im not interested in breeding at this point of course, just wondering if I even have a shot a being successful with a couple of pairs without remodeling! I have a local breeder (Marigolds)...would love any and all input you have for me from what I have written! thanks
Tracey

[trljr14]

Tracey,the birds would be fine with a temperature of 70 degrees.They just need a finch diet,that you can find in the information section.As for buying from a pet store,you can find a breeder on the forum to buy from.The prices for a gouldian would be cheeper or at a pet fair.If you include where your from,you probably find a breeder near you,tom.

[Sally]

Tracey, you have a good source in Marigold, not only for the Gouldians, but she has a lot of knowledge about this species, and I am sure she would be happy to help you. Decades ago, Gouldians were considered to be delicate and only for the more experienced breeder. This has changed considerably, and many people keep Gouldians in their homes, not in special bird rooms but in their living rooms, etc. Marigold will be able to advise you on the special dietary needs of Gouldians (not difficult to meet). I usually advise people to start out with Zebras or Societies, but someone else just mentioned that it is good to start with the species that appeals to you, and there is a lot of merit in that. You will enjoy finchkeeping even more if you are working with a species that you really want.

[mickp]

that temp you stated should be perfect for gouldians

[alfdtuna]

Normals and the black heads purple chest are the ones I find most attractive. Since I have no interest in breeding them, how is 3 males (from same breeder at the same time) in a flight cage of 35''w x 20 x 40h? Now a question on cage cleaning. Since these birds loathe being handled, how do you disinfect and clean it well??

[franny]

With your size cage it shouldn't be too hard to clean. You can reach the entire inside of the cage from any door. If your cage has a divider, just put that in, and clean one side thoroughly, then the other. If no divider, then just remove soiled perches one at a time and clean or replace. I use a squirt bottle with hot water and a bit of vinegar (or you can buy a bird safe cage cleaner if you prefer), to wet the wire of the cage where its been pooped on, then wipe down, with the birds right there in the cage. They keep out of my way and are not that fazed by it now.

Just make sure that you keep your shoulder right up to the door so they can't escape while you're cleaning. Some folks hang a towel on the inside of the cage in front of the door, or better yet, a clear sheet of vinyl. You can see what you're doing, but the opening is protected so they can't escape.

My cage has a slide out tray, so no need to clean soiled grate/wires at the cage bottom. It's quite easy to maintain a sanitary cage if you clean it regularly, i.e. daily or every second day is my usual routine. Don't let the poop build up and it will just take a few moments, with very little stress to the birds. I think catching them up and moving them to another cage would be much more disruptive than a quick wipe out.

However, if I get lazy and the cage needs a bit more than a quick wipe, I put it out on the balcony in nice weather, or in the bathroom in not so nice weather, and really wet it down. The birds even enjoy getting a misting. The poop comes off easily once it's been soaked thoroughly.

If you clean it routinely, at the same time, in the same way, the birds will get used to it.

[poohbear]

Normals and the black heads purple chest are the ones I find most attractive. Since I have no interest in breeding them, how is 3 males (from same breeder at the same time) in a flight cage of 35''w x 20 x 40h? Now a question on cage cleaning. Since these birds loathe being handled, how do you disinfect and clean it well??

Gouldians are not hard to keep if you buy reliable stock...and put 'em in a cage with a DIVIDER....makes life much easier.TRUST ME!!
Don't go over the top with 'additives' a sensible diet is sufficient.

[alfdtuna]

Poohbear..please specify the use and importance of the divider exactly... Do they need to be covered at night or is low light sufficient. Are ASM mostly caused form dirty cages or just indiscriminately caught in the air? Everyones seasoned input is greatly appreciated for sure!!

[poohbear]

These are some of the cages I used last year (not available in the States)

A central divider is essential for small birds.They can be seperated easily if they have to be for whatever reason.Makes catching up without stress easier.Cleaning the cages properly is a doddle...birds up one end...cleaning down the other.Thorough cleaning routine cuts down on the risk of disease....this can't be done while you have birds flapping about at the same time.
If I was keeping Gouldians indoors in a semi pet situation,I would allow low lighting overnight to prevent night fright.And allow sufficient cover in the cage so that the roosting birds felt secure.Nothing worse than keeping birds in all wire cages where they cannot hide away as they would in the wild.

English cages with dividers...