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GOULDIAN FINCHES YOUNG

Everything actually starts and finishes with young gouldians. Our adult birds will exactly be what we have made them. During breeding of gouldians I have got a compulsive impression that the bird which shows some handicaps since the very birth should not be fought for. This may sound deplorable but this is how it goes. As early as the first days, the genetically weak bird shows that its life is at stake. Such birds usually die within 7 days, although I have seen birds which manage to get feathers. However, even when they survive, almost as a rule the result is poor. The most critical days for young birds are when their parents stop feeding them, and they do not manage to break the grain membrane. Giving soaked grains can help, but one should be careful, since fermented grains could bring infection. I have had the biggest problems in rearing young in the case of blue gouldians. In only 3-4 days since becoming completely independent a few blue ones died of hunger, as they could not cope with the new situation. Immediately after separation from parents, it is best to keep the young with other young birds who have already got used to the new surroundings. This is due to the fact that they have greater peace with the birds of similar age, and they can also imitate other birds as regards food and water. If we immmediately put them among the adult birds, which have different habits and needs, the young withdraw into themselves and become insecure. In such a situation, some of them will set off on a one-way trip unless you immediately observe this and respond accordingly. The remedy for this is going back to the previous place.