Gouldians as inside pet birds

[maz]

I've got a friend that was thinking of getting a pet bird but doesn't like the noise associated with parrrots, she was looking at canaries but was also looking at others and came across gouldians. I've never thought of keeping them as a cage bird and was just wondering how they go and what sort of minimum size cage would they require if they were suitable? she really just wants something pretty as a pet

[GregH]

I think you'd better get your friend's definition of pet because no finch is "cute & cuddly" like a puppy and very few can be finger trained like a budgie and certainly not a Gouldian (that I've ever heard). In Japan, Europe and North America Gouldians are mainly cabinet bred indoors so they can be indoor birds but you need to be mindful of the absence of UV light so animals kept this way can't synthesise their own Vitamin D so it must be provided as part of the diet. Because they are "flighty", finches should be kept in open fronted cabinets rather than all wire cages as there is nowhere to retreat which is very stressful for the birds every time someone comes close or passes by. As for cage size the bare minimum should be 600X400X400mm3 for a pair but if they breed you will need another cage or otherwise dispose of the young as soon as they are weaned.

[natamambo]

Budgies are the best answer if she wants a bird, make sure it's male though.

[TomDeGraaff]

What I say applies to all birds kept indoors for companionship or company.

Some people just want a presence in their home: colour and movement.

Finches can serve that purpose admirably. They are especially challenged by their environments, however, so a bit more care should be given to privacy. I have even had zebra finches rearing young in the classroom but Gouldians require very consistent conditions. No great noises, open doors, banging etc.

Given adquate room, vit D, shelter and nutrients, a small group of males may be a nice distraction for some people. I don't think I would keep them on their own. Also, fresh air under carefully controlled conditions would be advisable too.

I assume your friend will have you looking over her/his shoulder so I reckon all would be well.

I know some do not see pet birds as a good thing but pets can be nature's ambassadors and many of us started that way

The trick is to get good, robust, healthy stock to start with

[maz]

Thanks for the input guys, yes she mainly wants the "goldfish" type situation, something to look at being pretty, definitely not the cuddly interact with type pet, she's had canaries before but was taken with the colours of the gouldians and asked my advice. I'm more an interactive type person so love the personality of parrots as pets but I can definitely see the appeal of a cage of colour.

[maz]

Well I went with her today to look at some gouldians, the breeder also bred and showed canaries and she has once again fallen for the canaries and has decided to wait a couple of months and get one....BUT I ended up coming home with a pair of gouldians and a pair of zebras lol. So I've finally joined the world of finches after spending a year thinking about getting some! I'm waiting to get the nest boxes out of my larger aviary one more pair of cockatiels still on eggs then my smaller aviary will be empty again (I've been using it as a holding aviary for the non breeding pairs) both pairs of finches will then go in there along with my turqs.

[finches247]

Congratulations Maz

[finchbreeder]

Glad to hear you both came away happy with your decissions.
LML