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Re: Goldians can you help me please
Posted: 21 Sep 2010, 20:40
by cranberry
VR1Ton wrote:Make sure your aviary is facing North or at the very least East, Southern & Westen walls should be totally enclosed. They WILL NOT tolerate draughts, the slightest draught & they will drop like flies. This is the most important aspect of Gouldians, & one wich is often overlooked, even by experienced breeders. The other important thing that is essential, they must have food & water available at all times, even during transort if more than about 1/2 hour. They are a tropical bird with no down, so to maintain body heat in cooler climates, they have to expend energy, to do this they need a continual supply of food.
Seed needs to be good quality, so find a petshop or produce/rural store that sell individual seeds or will make up your own mix. Mix should be:
2 parts Red panicum
2 parts Canary
1 part White Millet
1 part Jap Millet
From here you can then maintain them with out too much trouble, & as you gain more experience you can really get some good results out of them.
I was advised by a prominent finch breeder here in Adelaide to use:
1 part Canary
1 part French Millet
1 part Jap Millet
This is sold as "Fishers Mix" at Magill Grain Store.
I can vouch for the protection from draughts. It has made a huge difference this year for my birds. I've gone from losing a dozen adults to producing a dozen young and the adults staying alive. Touch wood!
Re: Goldians can you help me please
Posted: 21 Sep 2010, 20:50
by jusdeb
Jay my very limited attention span prevents me from finishing this epic undertaking by yourself ...From what I did read it was an awesome summary on Gouldian keeping .
Well done mate and 99% on that one .
Re: Goldians can you help me please
Posted: 21 Sep 2010, 21:25
by shanny2
well my large aviary my brother took for his cockatiels and I now am left with the little aviary and the little aviary size is 96 cm L, 124 cm H and W 66 cm
Re: Goldians can you help me please
Posted: 21 Sep 2010, 22:57
by finchbreeder
That will work fine for a pair. Just follow the rest of the advice and all should be well.
LML
Re: Goldians can you help me please
Posted: 22 Sep 2010, 07:14
by shanny2
thankyou all
Re: Goldians can you help me please
Posted: 22 Sep 2010, 08:11
by Jayburd
good luck with them. when are you actually getting them?
Re: Goldians can you help me please
Posted: 22 Sep 2010, 10:40
by Redwing
Shanny, sounds really exciting. Have you got somewhere to buy your seed from so everything is set up before you get them? Sure people will suggest some good places close to you, particularly if you can't travel far.
Re: Goldians can you help me please
Posted: 22 Sep 2010, 17:44
by shanny2
well there is this guy near me and he sells seed $1 a kg and I am getting them around Christmas time
Re: Goldians can you help me please
Posted: 22 Sep 2010, 23:34
by Redwing
That's good Shanny you've got lots of time to do all your research and get all the expert advice from the experienced keepers before you get them. I know being a newbie too how useful it is. I've only got 1 pr of Gouldians in a small mixed selection, bit thanks to everyone they've got babies due out of the nest in about a week. That seed is certainly cheaper than what I have to pay over here and you've got some idea already on the mix that suits them to keep them in peak condition Good Luck and we're looking forward to hearing everything.
Re: Goldians can you help me please
Posted: 23 Sep 2010, 08:43
by bleeding green
shanny2 wrote:well there is this guy near me and he sells seed $1 a kg and I am getting them around Christmas time
Hi Shanny, what shop is selling seed for that price? I'm in the area and wouldn't mind checking them out. Do they sell individual seeds or just mixes?
Cheers.