What do you feed your rearing Goulds?

[bleeding green]

As the title suggest (did I spell it right??). What are you feeding your goulds while they have young in the nest?
My pair hatched 5 and I think this is their first nest (certainly is while I've had them). In the 24 hours since I noticed the young they didn't appear to have been fed. Won't have a chance to check them again till wednesday.
I've offered them johnson grass seed heads, soaked seed, egg, frozen vegies, endive and cucumber. It's all getting eaten (it's a mixed collection but the goulds are always at the 'extras' bowl).

[TheFinchMan101]

All the stuff your giving them now seems pretty good you shouldn't need to give them much more if its already being eaten, the yolk inside the baby lasts one or two days so don't worry too much if the parents aren't feeding them yet

[matcho]

I just give them normal finch mix, soaked/sprouted seed and a daily dose of fresh dandelion. Don't worry too much, everything will be OK. If its your "first time" just let them be, your ears will tell you if everything is OK. If the parents are at the "extras" dish shouldn't be too many worries. Good luck!

Matcho

[bleeding green]

That's what I was hoping. They did seem very hungary though, when I looked inside the box yesterday they were all up, necks stretched and mouths open wide.
Anyway, I'll keep giving them the same and hopefully all is well when I check them on wednesday.

Yes, as I am relatively new to finches these are the first gouldians to hatch. I've been keeping parrots for years though, but I still get a huge thrill from finding young in the nests. I guess cos these are the first goulds and gouldians are my favourite finch, I have that extra bit of excitement.

Thanks for your replies.

[matcho]

BG,

I know how you feel, I was the same after nearly 30 years out of the "finch" game. Had gould chicks in the nest 5 weeks after getting started again and it was the 1st goulds I had owned. Try not to overdo the nest inspection, afterall would you like some giant coming in and checking on your kids? I'm sure it will be OK.

[TheFinchMan101]

I'm still fairly young and I've been breeding finches for about 5 years now. I'm sure I've still got a lot more to learn as I get older as compared to all the experienced people who have been breeding them for over 30 years.

[bleeding green]

Finchman, young or old really should make no differance when it comes to learning. If a person goes through a day without having learnt anything then it's a day wasted.

[Tiaris]

All the green stuff your offering them is great. I would also provide extra eggshells (zapped in microwave for 2mins) and crushed cuttlebone. You will notice they will consume far more of these mineral foods whilst the young are rapidly growing in the nest - need to feed them bones too.

[bleeding green]

They ahave a bowl of grit available. Do you offer the crushed cuttle seperatly or mixed with the fresh food? I have been giving the egg shells mixed in with the egg but left them out of the last mix. I also have oyster shell powder which I have treated in the oven that I sometimes sprinkle over the fresh food.

[finchbreeder]

I pile on the greens and cuttlefish. Just rinse my cuttlefish after collecting from the beach and give it to them whole. Got to go put some more cuttlefish in again today, they are really going through it.
LML