Tag Archives: Lady Gouldian finches

Information on how to breed lady gouldian finches

The basics in breeding lady gouldian finches

Before you think about breeding lady gouldian finches, you have to prepare yourself in terms of money, time and space needed for them. You should also prepare first the place where you will keep the babies after the breeding. The babies have to be kept away from the parents after they have been weaned. You have also to decide if you will keep the babies yourself, sale them or give them to a friend or a relative. Once you have taught about the above, then you should be ready to learn more about breeding lady gouldian finches.

How to choose the finches to breed

Look for the males that you want to breed. You have to look for mature finches with at least 6-9 months old. Do not mix the type, look for the one which are of the same species. The breed also should be between the finches which are not related, do not try the inbreed. Choose the finches that look physically healthy, not too obese or too thin. It is good also if you look for the finches with the feathers that look alert and bright. Do not breeding lady gouldian finches, with any genetic defects and look for the finches that are already bonded to one another.

The best time for breeding lady gouldian finches

After choosing the finches for breeding lady gouldian finches, you will have to choose the place to bring them together. The finches normally breed in winter or fall, therefore you should not try to breed them during any other seasons.

Before breeding lady gouldian finches, make sure that the finches are eating diet with enough protein and calcium. The diet where you can get enough of these nutriments is in the chopped egg shell but after boiling it and chopped vegetables. This diet has to be given to breeding lady gouldian finches, from the time the first egg has been laid until the babies have finished their molting

Breeding lady gouldian finches in colony or alone

You can choose breeding lady gouldian finches, in colony or one pair for every cage. Each option has its own advantage and disadvantages. If you breed only one pair for a cage, then there will be no disturbance and no fighting and you will be able to control careful the birds to mate. However this option can make the pairs to fail to breed since there is not stimulation offered by the colony. If you choose breeding lady gouldian finches, in colony, you will be encouraging the breeding which is normally stimulated by the colony. The disadvantage is that you will not be able to control the mates you want to breed which may lead to aggression among the males.

Before you begin the breeding lady gouldian finches, remember to clip the finches toenails to avoid accidentally puncturing the eggs by the birds. Look into the cages everyday to change the water and the food. Look if there is any egg laid and keep the record of the dates they have been laid. However, you should check the eggs from a far since the disturbance can frighten the breeding lady gouldian finches and they can abandon the eggs.

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Lady Gouldian finches

Lady Gouldian finches are the best finches you can keep

Lady Gouldian finches also known as the Rainbow finch or the Gould’s finch, is a colorful passerine bird found in Australia. Even if the bird is being bred in captivity, there is evidence that they continue to decline. People were encouraged to keep the Lady Gouldian finches in their homes after the declaration that they are endangered species in the wild. The bird has been named after the first person who described it John Gould during the year 1844. It is a member of the Estrilididae weaver finch family or is considered as a member of the subfamily Passeridae.

 The origins of the Lady Gouldian finches

The Lady Gouldian finches are believed to be of Indian origin and that it may have dispersed towards Pacific Ocean and Africa. The female and the birds are both colored in different colors such as marking, yellow, green and black. However, the females are not brightly colored as males. The difference between the sexes is that the chest of male is purple while the one of female is mauve.

The Lady Gouldian finches can be about 140 cm and the head can be black, red or even yellow. These colors were used to differentiate the types of Lady Gouldian finches kinds. However selective breeding can have different colors such as silver, yellow, blue and green on the back.

 Distinctive feature of Lady Gouldian finches

Young Lady Gouldian finches also have their own distinctive colors. The heads, necks and sides can be grey while their backs, tail feathers and wings look like olive green. The underside is pale brown. The beaks look blackish with a red tip. Feet and legs are light brown. The newly hatched Gouldian Finches are pink and naked until they reach 12 days old and the feathers will begin to appear. The beaks of young birds have phosphorescent beads that help their parents to recognize them in dark. The Lady Gouldian finches live in tropical savanna woodlands and they are move only within a small radius. They can change their habit only when the food or water has been reduced. Before the government of Australia put a ban on the Export of all Australian Fauna, Lady Gouldian finches were being exported in the whole world. This is why you will find many breeding population in different countries. This breeding in captivity has helped to breed the birds with many color mutations. The result is blue back, white breasted, yellow back, silver, pastel or even pure white birds.

 Lady Gouldian finches are endangered birds

Since the habitat of Lady Gouldian finches have been altered or decreased, the birds also begun to decline in number. The research has shown that the air borne parasite known as sac mite had been responsible for this decline. The birds are also known to be susceptible to different disease or viral infections. They are easily caught up by predators because of their bright colors. However, the Lady Gouldian finches  which are in the trouble are the one still in the wild. The ones breed for pet trade are popular and they have survived for long. The conservation methods include protecting their natural habitats.

 

 

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