Gouldian finches, also known as Lady Gouldian finches, are the most colorful finches in captivity. The most common color variations are red, black and yellow headed. The males are more colorful than the females with a brighter breast and a longer center tail feather. The males sing while the female may chirp. Females are also smaller than males. Breeding season for Gouldian finches is during the fall and winter. The female will lay one egg every 24 hours for a clutch of four to six eggs. The eggs will hatch in 15 to 18 days with fully feathered fledgelings appearing in 22 days. If this sounds like an appealing endeavor, here are a few guidelines for breeding these birds.
Instructions
1. Place the breeding cage in a low traffic, well ventilated area, about eye height. The cage should be out of drafts and in a room that maintains a temperature of 77 degrees F. A cage that is enclosed on three sides allows the birds to feel more secure, however a wire cage placed in a corner will also work. The cage should receive several hours of sunlight at day.
2. Place a wooden or plastic nesting box in the cage in one of the upper corners. Enclosed nesting boxes work best as Gouldian finches are not good at building nests.
3. Introduce the finches. If possible, introduce the male first and allow him to remain in the cage by himself for several days.
4. Place nesting material on the bottom of cage. You can use commercial nesting material or fine hay or grass. Place some of the nesting material in the nest itself to ensure that the eggs are not laid directly on the floor of the nest.
5. Provide a high quality finch seed mix. Before egg laying starts, mix the finch seed with a baby bird hand-feeding formula or chopped up hard-boiled egg with the shell. Give the pair fresh lettuce, spinach, watercress or sprouted seeds. Provide grit and charcoal for digestion and a cuttle bone for calcium. The pair will need fresh water every day.
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