How to Take Care of Gouldian Finches

Gouldian finches are renowned for their vibrant coloration. There are three groups of specific coloration known among breeders: black headed, red headed, and yellow headed. Gouldians range between 5 and 5.5 inches in length on average, and the male generally displays more intense colors than the female. They live eight years when cared for properly. Gouldian finches require more involved care than heartier finch breeds. Therefore they are often better suited for experienced finch owners, especially if you intend to breed the birds.

Things You'll Need

  • Wooden or stainless steel box style cage
  • 3 wooden perches
  • 5 hanging dishes
  • 2 Gouldian finches
  • Full-color spectrum light with timer
  • Thermometer
  • Humidifier
  • Mixed finch seed blend
  • Pellets
  • Spray millet
  • Sprouting seeds
  • Chickweed
  • Watercress
  • Spinach
  • Bee pollen
  • Eggs
  • Water
  • Ground oyster shell
  • Ground charcoal
  • Antibacterial hand soap
  • Hand feeding formula
  • Wooden nesting box
  • Nesting materials
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a large wooden or stainless steel box style cage that has one open side and bars spaced closely together.

    • 2

      Place the cage away from very hot or cold areas, avoiding windows, radiators, fireplaces, air conditioners, kitchen spaces, and doors.

    • 3

      Insert the perches on separate levels of the cage to promote adequate exercise. Place one perch near the bottom, one in the middle, and one closer to the top of the cage.

    • 4

      Place feeding dishes and a water dish slightly above the perches. Designate dishes for seed, water, pellets, supplemental foods and greens.

    • 5

      Purchase a pair of Gouldian finches. Clarify with the salesperson that the two birds are male and female if you intend to breed the finches. Put them in their cage gently as the birds are timid and easily frightened. Shock is potentially fatal, so take care when moving them as well.

    • 6

      Install the full-color spectrum light above the cage. Set the timer to match an average daily sunlight pattern for your area. Most finches require a minimum of 10 hours of light a day.

    • 7

      Maintain a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the room where you keep the cage. Check twice a day with a thermometer to ensure that this temperature is consistent. Place a humidifier in the room with the cage.

    • 8

      Offer a mixed finch seed blend, finch pellets, millet, sprouting seeds, chickweed, watercress, spinach, bee pollen, and eggs in the feeding dishes. Hard-boil and chop up the eggs, and only offer fresh greens.

    • 9

      Provide fresh water in the water dish. Replace and discard the remaining greens, water, and eggs after 12 hours.

    • 10

      Give ground oyster shell mixed with ground charcoal on the bottom corners of the cage; replace the mix every other day.

    • 11

      Clean feeding and water dishes daily, and the entire cage on a weekly basis with antibacterial hand soap and hot water.

      .

    • 12

      Mix hand feeding formula into the seed blend or the eggs according to the manufacturer's directions on the back panel of the can for breeding pairs. Use the largest measurements provided in the directions to prepare the formula.

    • 13

      Hang a wooden nesting box in the cage to encourage breeding. Fill the nest with nesting materials such as thin hay and grass.