Lady
Gouldian
Finch Breeding FAQ
| What
age is ideal to start breeding
lady gouldian finches?: 16+ months ( after first adult moult ) Too early and you can have poor immature gouldian parents that are not very patient. This can lead to: -pitching -short incubation periods -neglect -aggression How old can gouldian finches breed ?: The cockerel gouldian finch can be bred up to 7-8 years of age The gouldian hen about 5 yrs. The gouldian hen lays her best clutches usually in the 2nd and 3rd breeding seasons. How do I know a gouldian pair is ready for breeding?: First note the condition of the gouldian hen and if she : -has a bright red or deep black beak , this is a sign of peak hormonal condition -crouching low on the perch -eats lots of protein and cuttle bone. Next look at the cockerel for the following signs. -sings -dances -has a pearly white beak ( glossy shine) -beak tip colour is bright in intensity These are all good signs the pair is ready. What is the best cage size for breeding?: A cage that is about 2 1/2 to 3 feet square This will allow the chicks to remain with the parents until the next brood hatches, so they can learn the fundamentals of breeding ( courtship/laying/brooding/feeding). Smaller cages = less room for the chicks and parents to co co-habitate confortably. Chicks cannot be left in to learn the fundamentals of breeding as there will be too much squabbling. How do I set up a pair for breeding?: First place a male in the breeding cage. Allow 5-7 days to pass and then introduce the hen. After 2-3 weeks assess the birds and if you note the gouldian pair seem to be getting along introduce some nesting material to see how the cockerel gouldian reacts. If he starts playing with it, introduce a nest the next day. Only introduce the nest when the male is in a building mood, otherwise it just fouls the cage. What type of breeding diet should I provide?: One that includes: -lots of protein ( both animal and vegetable is best) -cuttle bone (calcium) -charcoal ( or like product) -seeds ( high in carbs) What is an ideal gouldian nest size/shape etc.?: We prefer nests that are narrow and deep as the gouldians seem to prefer these. We have not used the L shaped nests so frequently advertised and have had no problems with the ones we use. They are more comfortable in nests which have the half open entrance feature as opposed to hole entranced ones. How do I know if the gouldian pair is laying/ incubating? What are the signs?: The easiest way to tell is if the cuttle bone consumption increases quite a lot. If the hen/cockerel seem to disappear for great lengths of time. The cockerel and hen gouldian are in the nest box chatting ( soft clicks/ coos etc..) How can I tell if the gouldian eggs are fertile?: -fertile eggs after 8 days have a sheen to them and are like white porcelain. If candling you will see red veins in the eggs beginning to grow and branch out. -clear eggs are easily detectable after 8 days of incubation as they -have no odour -do not change in appearance from time of laying. -dead in shell eggs are easily detected by: -dark un-even striated ( striped) colouration of egg -strong smell if broken open -un even weight distribution visible when egg is placed on flat surface as it constantly rolls to the same side. How often should I do nest checks?: Very few as this can be very stressful on the goulds and may cause adverse reactions if gouldian finches are stressed too much. We recommend: - 8 days after incubation begins to determine if the clutch has any fertile eggs. -two days after eggs are expected to hatch to make sure chicks have hatched successfully and are receiving feedings from the parent goulds. -a week after the eggs have hatched to make sure they are still being fed and gaining weight and there are no dead in nest chicks that may cause disease or death of their nest mates. These are the only times we recommend nest checks. We realize that this can be a very exciting time for the breeder but caution is very much warranted if you wish to have a successful clutch. How long does it take for the eggs to hatch? -eggs take up to 16 days after the hens starts brooding ( usually after 4th eggs is laid). -can take longer if the pair does not incubate continually ( day and night). What was the longest time from laying to hatching that we have experienced? The longest was 24 days ( many years back) by a pair of totally incompatible birds. The hen sat infrequently and the male not at all. The male never spelled the hen and so she simply was too exhausted to sit non stop. We have read of another case when the birds took 27 days with only a 30% hatch rate. What age is ideal for banding?: Between the 10th-13th day after hatching -too young and the band slips off -too old and you cannot get the band on easily and mat harm the gouldian chick. This is the ideal time to put in some paper towel or similar to prevent soiling of the chicks and to make nest cleaning that much easier when the nest is removed. What age do gouldians normally fledge from the nest?: Between the ages of 22-25 days is normal. How do you manage your broods so that you do not have fledglings just coming out of the nest and the hen laying another brood? : We remove the nests after the chicks have fledged and replace it after about 3 weeks, so that the hen and cockerel do not abandon the first clutch before they are weaned properly. When should you remove the gouldian chicks from the parents?: I would recommend removing the gouldian chicks after they have witnessed their parents feed the next clutch at least for 1 day so they understand all the fundamentals of breeding. Chicks removed too early can make poorer parents as they lack the education necessary to be successful brooders/feeders. If you are not interested in teaching the gouldian chicks then removing them at about 4-5 weeks after fledging should allow them enough time to be eating on their own. Got a question/comment regarding lady gouldian finch breeding please post it to our forum or at our yahoo group and I'll see if I or one of our members can answer it for you. If you have any immediate queries/emergencies on gouldian breeding please |
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