Oversized gouldian finch

[Rod_L]

Grow bird seed in the aviary. The following link has information on how to grow seed in pots, but you grow it the same way in the ground. After you have built the aviary, sow the floor with bird seed (the same stuff you feed the birds) and water it. Fertilise it every week with a liquid plant fertiliser. Let it grow for a month or more before adding birds and they can eat the grass, use the grass for nests, and if the grass gets a chance to seed, the birds will eat that too.

You can make up a cage out of bird wire and put it over sections of the grass so the birds can't get it. This will let the seed plants grow to maturity and produce seed stalks that should poke through the wire, where the birds can eat it.

You can also grow the seed in pots and transplant it into the aviary when the grass is about 12 inches high. Quails will nest in the grass and the other birds will eat it.
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[Joan]

Mny thx for yr advice and help, we too have had rodent problems but have wised up re the aviaries and will implement the wire (bird) in the ground to protect our little darlings. And also growing of seeds, sounds great, will be definitely trying that. Kind regards Joan

[Joan]

Hi, sorry to need info all the time, but hav noticed my female gouldian...mother of 4 babes is losing a cpl of head feathers. Does this mean she is iodine deficient, and should I b concerned? Shld I supplement with kelp powder or wait n see? They already get finch crumbles which does contain some iodine amongst other minerals. Joan

[Rod_L]

She could be moulting or the male is pulling them out while trying to breed with her.

Make sure they have a vitamin supplement, clean water, mineral grit, cuttlebone, a good seed mix and plenty of green grass seeds and fruits and veges.


She should be fine but it if gets worse, post some pictures of the bird. Maybe check her for lice and mites. It's unlikely to be these unless you recently added new birds.

[Joan]

Mny thx Rod L most of the above done, just green grass seeds missing atm , but will go a hunting.

[Rod_L]

If you can't get green grass seeds you can grow them at home. See link below. And you can make soaked and sprouted seeds that will work too.
viewtopic.php?f=84&t=21732&p=188305#p188305

To make soaked seed simply get half a cup of bird seed and soak it in a container of water for 12 hours. Tip the water out and put the seed in a sieve. Then rinse the seed under tap water before shaking excess water off and feeding to the birds.

Sprouted seed is made the same way (soak for 12 hours then rinse and shake excess water off). After that put the soaked seed in a ziplock bag with some air. Seal the bag up and put it in a warm place. I put mine on top of the fridge. Leave the seed until you see tiny little roots coming out of the seed. Then put in a sieve and rinse well before shaking off excess water and feeding to the fish.

Sprouted seed is much better than soaked seed.

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You can add egg biscuit mix to their diet too.

Hard boil a chicken egg.
Remove the shell and crush it up and put it in the cage or on the garden. (Never put raw egg or shell in an aviary because it can spread disease).
Put the boiled egg in a bowl and use a fork to crush it up.

Get 1 cup of cornflakes and put it in a paper or plastic bag. Get the air out of the bag and seal it up.
Use a rolling pin to crush the cornflakes into little pieces.
Add the crushed cornflakes to the boiled egg and mix it together.
Feed the mix to the birds. Remove uneaten food at the end of the day.

[finchbreeder]

It is not uncommon for breeding Gouldian hens to loose head feathers. Have one here at the moment who looks absolutely awful. 3/4 of head feathers missing. They usually come back just fine when they moult, if you have been feeding them right. And it sounds like you are.
LML

[Joan]

Once again, u guys are a wealth of knowledge, thank u v much appreciate yr help

[Joan]

We are almost finished our larger aviary, and are placing branches for perching, there are sum Lilly pilly trees that need a trim and I was wondering if they wld be suitable for perching. We usually use gum branches, but thought we may as well install these branches rather than have them wasted. Several branches are in excess of 6ft, so they d be perfect for central upright branch/tree. Thanks for ur help...again Joan

[Rod_L]

Not sure about lilly pilly trees, they should be ok because they are native and the fruit is edible.

Generally you want to avoid any plant that produces clear or white sap when you break leaves or branches. The sap is usually toxic. If the plant doesn't produce sap, it's normally fine.