My New Obsession—Anyone Else Keep Gouldian Finches? Update: CHICKS!

[chestnutmarebeware]

I’m so excited with my new housemates! Eight Goulds in all three head colors. (The gray/green pair are
babies who haven’t hit their first molt yet, but will be yellow heads.

I still have a wish list of a black-head male, and one or more yellow-head females, because they prefer to mate with same-color birds.

They make me smile every time I see them!
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[Magicboy]

Beautiful! I don’t have birds …how big is their cage? Do you plan to breed them?

[chestnutmarebeware]

@Magicboy

Beautiful! I don’t have birds …how big is their cage? Do you plan to breed them?

They’re in a smallish quarantine cage right now, but will be moved into a larger flight cage in another month or so. These birds came from a colony-breeding set-up that was very successful, so I’m going to try that first—just hang a bunch of nests and let nature (hopefully) take its course.

[MissCoco]

I don’t keep them, but they are beautiful! Please keep us updated with pictures as they move into their flight cage and hopefully breed!
My family had a black-masked lovebird as a child, so the black-faced finches remind me (a bit) of him!

[MustangSavvy]

I used to keep Zebra Finches and absolutely loved them. I miss them a lot and hope to get more some day. These guys were always on my wish list. I really miss having birds, once I am finished with college and more stable I will have birds again.

[Parrotnutz]

They sure are beautiful! I don’t know anything about them. Parrots are my passion, crazy me. I have 2 double yellow headed amazons and a severe mini macaw!. Your finches are about the size of their heads, lol.
Can’t wait to read your updates!

[spook1]

I have them!!! Wonderful beautiful birds!!! They are hard to breed though. I have 8 and 2 owl finches. You’ll love them!

[CanadianTrotter]

Your finches are gorgeous.

I had quite a few society finches in a large custom made flight cage, they were always a joy to watch and listen to. I’ve had canaries over the years and now am down to just one rescue starling.

[snowblaze]

Very pretty finches!

I’ve heard of people using society finches to incubate the Gouldian finch eggs and raise the chicks. I had a male pair of society fiches do that for a clutch of zebra finch eggs and they did a great job.

[chestnutmarebeware]

@snowblaze

Very pretty finches!

I’ve heard of people using society finches to incubate the Gouldian finch eggs and raise the chicks. I had a male pair of society fiches do that for a clutch of zebra finch eggs and they did a great job.

I’ve heard that, too. I do have some zebra finches that raised one clutch successfully, and would really like to do it again. I think that when the Goulds start breeding, I’ll let the zebras start as well, in case there’s any chick-chucking going on.

[chestnutmarebeware]

Well, my young pair successfully hatched three chicks about 10 days ago, with no issues since then! They’re fat and healthy and getting some baby feathers already.

The only downside is that my zebra pair, whom I let start a nest at the same time (in case I needed them as fosters), outdid themselves with five chicks, lol! Anyone need some baby zebra finches?

[Barn_Mom]

Pics or it didn’t happen!!! Congratulations!

[snowblaze]

Congratulations on all of your hatchings! I traded a clutch of zebra finch babies to the store for more bird food. Zebra finches sure do reproduce with great enthusiasm.