Question for breeders of blue gouldians

[Diane]

When I first set up an aviary to breed blue gouldians I put in a Blue gouldian cock, YB/split blue hen, 1 pair of Emblema and a pair of OB. I noticed my blue gouldian was chasing all the birds except the gouldian hen.
I had chosen the Emblema and the OB as suitable companions as they are inoffensive birds and generally get along well with gouldians just as they have in my other aviaries. I did also try single sexes, a ruddy cock and 3 Emblema cocks but still no difference.
I ended up removing all the other birds so the gouldians are in there on their own now.
I thought this behaviour was just this particular bird but after reading some comments I'm beginning to wonder.

I belong to some email groups and Ive just read a few comments regarding the blue gouldians and their temperaments, these comments come from people in Europe and the USA.
They mention that the blue gouldian seem to be a bit more aggressive. Some said they have kept the blues on their own as they were always chasing the other birds. One person even said the Pastels were the same.
Anyone else notice this kind of behaviour from their blue backed gouldians?

[mackstaa]

BB my Goulds are in with everything else in a big aviary, although not the most idealistic method of housing for best results my birds thrive, the blues are not any different in behaviour towards other inhabitants. Obviously size of the aviary matters and I wouldnt of thought a problem seeing yours.
They can be slightly schizo and possibly a bit more nervous than normals but thats all. Maybe your worrying about your blue boy a bit too much, hes probably just protecting his land.. Are they raising the last clutch for the year?

[Diane]

Not raising anything Just teasing me by going in and out of the box.
After the moult is done I might just swap the blue pair into the main aviary and move the YH pair that have had the blue young into the 9 x 5 foot aviary, cant hurt.

[spanna]

I know Red headed goulds are more aggressive (STGF have done extensive research on this, Sarah Pryke in particular) than other head colours, and I can definitely testify to this. My RH's were horrors at times in a mixed aviary, now my YH's are just dreamy. Can't comment on Blues, though it is possible.

[Bgould]

BB I haven't notice this type of behaviour with my blues and I house them with a variety of other finches which include crimsons, rufous backs, painteds and song sparrows and they all seem to get along. I have noticed though that some blue cocks are very fussy whom they pair with and may show no interest in the hen housed with him and even if I swap hens around may still show no interest in breeding but this has only happened on few occassions. I found this happened when housed in single pairs. I pair blue hens to split cocks and have found this pairing more successful and house approx 3-4 pair(blues) per aviary. Back to your blue cock It may help if you house another pair of blues with him so he has some breeding competition which may keep him busy thus leaving the other finches alone.

[Diane]

It may help if you house another pair of blues with him

Dont I wish I could! Im all tapped out for a while.
I know that the RH are known to be a bit more pushy than the other head colours and this blue has the salmon coloured head so it may just be the RH thing going on, but I just found it interesting that others thought their blues were a bit on the aggressive side.
I was aiming for only one pair of gouldians in each aviary so that I was sure the young came from that pair.
I think I will change the two pair around, move the YH split blue to the 9 x 5 and the blue pair to the main aviary and see what happens, at least I will then be able to put a pair of emblema and a pair of OB in with the YH gouldians

[AMCA26]

Mine have been ok. Had them with Longtails and Zebras this season.

[jusdeb]

ABK has an article with ideas for reducing the aggression in Red Heads ( Gouldians not people ). Might be worth a look Di .

I can send it to you if you like . Email my hotmail addy if you want a look see OK.

[Diane]

Thanks Deb, will make contact for that.