Gouldian Finch Information Center – Helping Every Gouldian Owner Be Successful

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Welcome to Gouldian Gardens!

Lady Gouldian finches live in the wild in Australia, but they’re a lesser known species in the U.S. “What are those brightly colored birds?” I’m often asked.

Followed by “I want one!”

And who wouldn’t? With their diminutive size (about 4 inches), soft calls, and rainbow of colors, they’re irresistible.

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Gouldians have a reputation of being a delicate bird, too difficult to raise. Not so! I’ve raised hundreds of them and I find them to be very strong, provided you take good care of them in 2 ways:

Nutrition
Preventive Measures against Illness

This site is dedicated to helping others learn and grow in their care of Lady Gouldian Finches.

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Blog

October 18, 2019October 18, 2019

Q. My Gouldians Just Had Babies, Should I Give Them Special Food?

Hi there. Yes there are several things you can do, but first let me lecture you about why you should have already been doing it for them. Gouldians are fairly hardy, but depending on the way you’ve been keeping them (called your husbandry skills) they may not be in the greatest shape right now. Laying …

Continue reading “Q. My Gouldians Just Had Babies, Should I Give Them Special Food?”

May 13, 2019June 20, 2019

Making Chop for your Finches (the easy way)

Making Chop can be as hard as you want it to be, but it can also be easy. If your finches have never eaten chop before, and you want to get started, go

April 9, 2019August 6, 2019

My Hen is Egg Bound! Now What?

You’ve just found an egg bound hen. In other words, you found her sitting on the cage floor, maybe with her wings spread, or some other position that makes you know something is wrong. Let’s go ahead and assume it’s an egg.

Foods Pet Birds Should Never Have

Acorns

Alcohol

AvocadoBeans, uncooked

caffeine

Cassava (tapioca)

Chocolate

Citrus, small amounts if any

Dairy products – their bodies cannot digest it properly

Eggplant

Lettuce

Meat

Mushrooms

Onions

Peanuts – danger of aflatoxin

Rhubarb

Fruit seeds and pits – even apple seeds are quite poisonous.

White potatoes

Could My Gouldian Finch Have Mites?

Most people seem shocked when someone suggests their birds could have mites. The truth is that lots of birds have mites or lice. If yours are in an outdoor aviary, or were before you got them, it is possible that they have some due to exposure to outdoor birds. If they came from a pet store, it is highly likely that they are mite infested. Even if your Gouldians came from a breeder there’s always a chance of an infestation. Those with overgrown, broken, or deformed beaks will be especially susceptible to a heavier mite load. Besides lowering their overall condition, the resulting skin lesions invite bacteria growth.

What Are Mites?

Mites are relatives of spiders and ticks, and like those relatives they have 8 legs. Little is known about some, and in fact new species were found on finches as recently as 2015.

Here I’ve tried to list both a common name and a species, but there are multiples of every one, and many attack our babies in different ways. But make no mistake – mites are dangerous because a heavy load will lower the bird’s immune system. They can eventually kill the bird or the babies in the nest. Please consider treating your birds to rid them of any and all mites.