Finch Gouldian Health Information

Caring for Gouldian Finches is not as easy as some of the "novice finches" such as the Zebra Finch and the Society Finch, but Gouldian Finches may have an undeserved reputation for being difficult to care for. While it is true that the Zebra and Society finch may be more hearty, Goudians are also quite hearty if they are bred from good stock. Generally speaking many Gouldian Finches do not handle change well. They should not be moved around frequently or they become highly susceptible to disease due to increases in stress levels. It is important that owners take care to make sure that temperatures are kept within reasonable ranges for the Gouldian Finch. Gouldians can accept temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit but as is true with other animals they must be acclimated and receive a well balanced diet to withstand extreme low temperatures. Gouldians will breed at temperatures as low as 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and some hobbyists report that theirs will breed in lower temperatures. Ideal temperatures range between 70 and up to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. High humidity requirements is an matter of "opinion" among hobbyists and can be adjusted by allowing a Gouldian to have access to a bath, or by spritzing a few times a day after the 1st week of incubation. The egg or any birds egg for that matter does require some humidity which is drawn by the moisture from the air and/or the parent's breast while the parent incubates. As with all pet birds natural sunlight is a must. If this is not possible you can use artificial full spectrum florescent lighting. The Gouldian, like other finches must be allowed room to fly. For this reason cages should not be smaller than 20X20X40, to allow plenty of room to fly. A balanced diet is also a must. This diet should consist of seeds including, canary grass seeds, Niger seeds and other seeds, millet, fresh greens such as chickweed, dandelion, parsley and spinach. In addition some Gouldians may enjoy fresh insects such as crickets, waxworms, fruitflies and mealworms. Most captive bred Gouldians, however, do not eat live foods. If you want your Gouldian to accept live foods they should observe other Gouldians eating them. Gouldian Finches do need an increase of protein in their diet during the breeding season, which is usually provided by feeding them an eggfood mixture, which also serves as a good food for the nestlings--and is especially valuable for them in their first few days after hatching. It is very important that any who wish to purchase these birds learn as much as possible about their special care requirements prior to purchase.

Breeding
Breeding Gouldian Finches is generally considered more difficult than breeding the more prolific Zebra Finches and Society's. Gouldian Finches are not generally considered a good first choice for a novice finch breeder. Novices may want to attempt to breed another type of finch to gain experience and should make sure to educate themselves before attempting to breed them. Incubation for Gouldians is between 14 and 19 days. The hen will start to incubate after the last egg is laid then start counting your days. Sometimes the male will participate or take over incubation. This varies. Usual clutch sizes is between five and six eggs. Eight eggs is extremely unusual. Coloring up or molting completely out takes from eight months to one year.

Some Gouldians may have difficulty learning parenting skills, but often get things right after an attempt or two that fails somewhere along the line--and thereafter can be excellent parents.