My disastrous start to the Gouldian breeding season...

[cranberry]

Out of 6 Gouldians purchased in February, 1 is still alive. The good news is she fledged 2 chicks which seem to be doing well. I purchased a new red head cock on the weekend and hopefully these 2 will pair up and produce more. I have transferred the birds to a holding cage in a warm dry location in my shed. The aviary they were in is now out of commission and will be given a thorough disinfecting and the floor replaced with dry material like gravel instead of straw. This will be used as my budgie holding aviary from now on. The other big aviary is being refurbished to house finches. I am on the last stages of putting plastic covering on the front to protect from draughts. I will post photos once I'm done. I have also come up with a much cheaper way of protecting from draughts instead of using cafe blinds. It involves the use of corrugated polycarb roof sheeting which can be slid into place using fence capping as tracks. I have yet to try it but I think my theory will work.

What have I learnt?

1. Gouldians are not constitutionally strong creatures. My zebra finches thrived in this aviary and the Gouldians simply died off one by one.
2. Do not use a floor that can hold moisture like pea straw. Use concrete or gravel.
3. Protect against air sac mite using Moxidectin. I'm sure 2 of mine succumbed to it as they had that distinctive "clicking" noise.
4. Protect from draughts at all times (probably applies to all finches).

I'm not giving up though. I'm hopeful my new setup will bring some success and if it doesn't, I may have to give the Gouldians up for good and try my hand at some less "fussy" species. But, I'm going to keep trying.

[dRAG_jUNKIE]

Good to hear you aren't giving up on the Gouldians

[finchbreeder]

Sounds like your new measures are good ones. Congratulations on the 2 chicks at least. Not the easiest little finch till you hit on the right circumstances then it happens.
LML