gouldian protein

[paul1966]

hi all, been a great year for me, with gouldians was trying to figure out protein feeding just wanted ti give them more. now i had feed seed,sprouted seed,greens, culttlefish,and a few other things.Now my goulds wont eat mealworms. wont eat egg products.so how can you give them more protein? lots of articles say more animal protein? do you think sprouted seed contains enough protein.any other ideas. thanks

[Diane]

I mix the boiled egg with the ground up shell and some of the commercial egg mix. I sprinkled a bit of millet on top to entice them to try it because when I first started to give them egg food they ignored it.
If you already give them something they really like, try mixing the egg in with that.
Or you could take all the food, seed, everything away at night and just offer them the egg food first in the morning, then put the normal seed back after half an hour or so.
My gouldians dont eat mealworms either.
I guess perseverance is the key, offer a little bit couple of times a week until they get the message.......hey guys...its food....and its good!

[E Orix]

If you are worried about their diet and the reluctance to eat live food don't worry.
Gouldians are not noted for eating live food.
If you are worried about the lack of protien up the quantity of Plain Canary seed in your mix.
Give them soaked seed or seed just starting to sprout(tiny bud) it is far better than seed that has started to show shoots.
Once a week you can give them a vitamin dose,plus washed sand,baked egg shell and charcole.
Don't feed them fatty foods as they are a lazy bird and will get too fat and they won't breed or the males will be infertile.

[jusdeb]

Ive noticed over the years that birds won't do without , if they need extra protien they will eat it same as extra oils in winter , mine wont touch linseed or niger until the cold weather hits then they will eat it.
They know what they need , Ive given up the constant battle to get them to eat live food ,( did it long enough with 3 fussy kids) now they have insectivore all the time if they eat it good if they dont tough ...they wont die .
Same as omega 3 seeds , greens , eggshells, grain bread , they get it given to them , up to them if they want to eat them.

oops no my kids were not force fed meal worms

[Matt]

If you are worried about the lack of protien up the quantity of Plain Canary seed in your mix.

That's exactly what I'd recommend also. When my goulds are breeding I give them a seperate container of canary seed.

[finchbreeder]

Have just uped the quantity of plain canary in my avairys cause it's getting a little coolish. You know under 10degrees
Hey where I live that's cool.
LML

[Will_36]

Nice to know about the plan canary. Trying to get mine to eat finch crumble with seed.
Have noticed niger seed is going missing.

[dRAG_jUNKIE]

I feed mine passwells finch soft food, I think it's like 30% protein. The goulds wouldn't eat it on it's own so now I peprare it in a bowl then mix in heaps of seed and a few chicken starter pellets. Then divide it up into bags and freeze it, now the goulds can't get enough of it.