Blue Gouldian Finch

[TheFinchMan101]

[Diane]

Nothing too dramatic has happened but just knowing the possible problems with this mutation dosnt make for a relaxed keeper
Im trying to settle down and just wait for things to happen in their own time but if my blue boy even looks at me the wrong way I tense up thinking there could be something wrong.

[mackstaa]

Nice pics Finchman off to a good start.

I know exactly how you feel Diane Im home tomorrow my blue boy has hatched his 2nd clutch for the year am keen to check them out and see what I have when I fly home from work lunch time, bit tricky though he has nested in a real hollow log about 35cm inside it I couldnt get my hand in if I tried a torch and my trusty pont and shoot cam should be able to tell nodule colour How are yours going so far?

[Diane]

Got three on the perch that could be splits. Eggs in different nest, and temptation to peek held tightly in check

[AMCA26]

Beginners Luck? Maybe not. My first time with Gouldians and i have Blues. 7 on the perch, 4 in a nest, 1 hatched today in a clutch of 6, 5 fertile eggs soon to hatch. These are fed Dry seed, soaked seed every 2 days, green seed, spinach and endive. Maybe i bought the right birds that are used to the cold areas? I didnt ask anyone about just rang someone one nite the next thing i was ordering some pairs. Yes i lost half of them but last winter i bought 3pairs havnt looked back. Only lost a YB split Blue hen last week for no reason. But any bird can drop off the perch and i cop it on the chin but i am already 700% up on last year.
At the end its your choice and if you can afford the outlay. And geting the right help from the start would be a bonus as i would say most will not tell you their tricks etc. Pair of Splits i guess would be $200- $300 and Blue to a Split your looking at $500. If you find any Blues alot cheaper i would stay away would be a bit sus.

[Diane]

Congratulations, wouldnt mind half your luck this year.

[TheFinchMan101]

God I bet you'd be angry if they died considering their worth so much. have any of yours died before

[mackstaa]

I lost a baby blue last week out of a clutch of 3 blues, no obvious reason but I suspect it may of been a cat. Ive had blues with eye problems, boils, sudden losses that goes with splits as well cant say I remember ever having the same health problems as normals. My most productive male so far is a bit doey he will fly into the wire when all hear the cordons distress call while all others have flown to the other side of the aviary and perched. I love them all though
Whole bunch of possibles came out today no blue ones tho, luck of the draw.

[gomer]

God I bet you'd be angry if they died considering their worth so much. have any of yours died before

I have been going for two seasons now and have not sold one.At least I am breeding more then loosing. Seriously though I have probley lost about 30 % of those bought,And now have about 5 different lines, I am doing better now,But all of mine are now in pretty open aviaries so time will tell.

[Simba]

At a bird sale earlier this year I picked up a split blue cock ($100) & a possible split blue hen ($30).
The first round they had 2 chicks but dead in shell one had white nodules so would have been a blue, so atleast i then knew my possible split was a split.

This week the second round of 5 out of 6 eggs have hatched 2 blues 3 normals the other egg was dead in shell but would have been a blue.

No idea why I'm getting the Dead in shell as i'm not getting any problems with this in other nests, the night before the eggs are laid i notice the hen always looks a bit puffed up, they have access to greens, grit and cuttle fish bone.

The dead in shell chicks chip all the way around the top of the egg and lift the top off but never make it out of the egg.

Still I'm happy with 5 chicks 2 being blue just hope they make it.