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New Goldfinches

Posted: 03 Feb 2025, 18:12
by Redwing
I’m hoping someone can give me some advice. 10 days ago I bought a pair of star finches and a pair of goldfinches from a local aviculture sale. The stars are behaving as I would expect any new birds to behave … alert, curious, relaxed. Already they come to the feed table with the other birds when I put in the daily greens while I am still in the aviary. The goldfinch pair could not be more of a contrast. They are constantly flying around at the far end of the aviary if I am anywhere within sight. I have only observed them at the seed hopper as I come towards the aviary. I have not yet seen them sitting still or preening. They just appear stressed and fearful. Is this a normal breed characteristic? Any hints?

Re: New Goldfinches

Posted: 03 Feb 2025, 20:30
by matcho
They may be wild caught?

Re: New Goldfinches

Posted: 03 Feb 2025, 22:08
by Redwing
That’s how they’re behaving. We don’t have them in WA so perhaps they’ve been brought over from interstate.
There were several pairs for sale which I’ve never seen before, but I haven’t been to a sale for several years.
How will they go if they’re not aviary bred?

Re: New Goldfinches

Posted: 04 Feb 2025, 10:21
by finchbreeder
They have been a bit on the invisible side in WA for a few years, so it is possible some enterprising person has moved them over the border.
I guess like all the wild caught birds back in the day, they will settle in time.
Just remain calm round them and it will eventual dawn on them that you are not a threat.
Will be interested in hearing more come the Spring breeding season.
Good luck.

Re: New Goldfinches

Posted: 04 Feb 2025, 11:58
by Craig52
There are very few goldfinches bred in captivity due to their low price and being wild caught.
In the eastern states most are sold to dealers that ship them overseas for a lot more than they can get locally. There is always a glut of them due to wild breeding and dealers are stuck with them.
So unless they are paired up in huge aviaries they stay very nervous virtually for life and you are just buying pretty but nervous birds.

Re: New Goldfinches

Posted: 04 Feb 2025, 20:51
by Redwing
I would never have bought them if I had any idea they may not be aviary bred. Now I have the dilemma of not knowing what to do in their best interest. I don’t have the luxury of a giant aviary

Re: New Goldfinches

Posted: 05 Feb 2025, 10:16
by finchbreeder
The other posability is of course - that they are used to a large avairy and are feeling a little exposed in your smaller avairy.
So - maybe just observe quietly for a bit and see if they seem to settle.

Re: New Goldfinches

Posted: 05 Feb 2025, 17:07
by Redwing
Thanks for that finchbreeder, I will put some more brush in strategic places. At least they’re not disturbing any of my other finches who just seem to be ignoring them.

Re: New Goldfinches

Posted: 06 Feb 2025, 10:11
by finchbreeder
I hope the large avairy upbringing is the answer.
There used to be quite reasonable numbers of Goldies in WA some years back when I had them.
I remember mine as being as quiet as the canaries.
But I have noticed over the years since that they seem scarcer than back then.
So it could be that only a few people with large avaires are still keeping them.