Raising Gouldian Finches

The Gouldian finch is a rare bird of beauty with elegant and exquisite plumage colors. Also called the rainbow or painted finch, there are not many left in the wild. Many people like to have them as pets, and being a bit of a delicate bird, one should know how to take care of them. Caring for Gouldian finches is not difficult, but just requires the correct knowledge about their habits and environment.

  1. Maintain a Proper Environment

    • One of the most important points to keep in mind while caring for Gouldian finches is their environment. They do not take well to changes and can get highly stressed, which in turn affects their health, as the increased stress levels reduce their immunity. The factors in the environment to be noted are the placement of their cage and the temperature.

      The Gouldian finch is a relatively small bird but requires a fair amount of space to move around. Ideally they will thrive in a bird room, but a cage having a height of around 25 inches and length of 30 inches should do fine. Proper ventilation is important, but also care should be taken that the cage is not in a place getting a direct draft of cold air. Once the cage is placed at a particular location, it should not be moved around, as this will stress the bird. These birds like sunlight, and if possible the cage should be where they can get plenty of it. But again their cage should not be moved around just to get sunlight.

      Gouldian finches are susceptible to temperature changes, and a sudden drop in temperature can be fatal to the bird. Ideally the temperature can be 75 degrees Fahrenheit, or a little warmer. There are instances where these birds have been bred in temperatures as low as 40 degrees, and before buying one, you should know the ideal temperature for the bird, from the breeder. Generally these birds take to warmer temperatures and they also are known to breed when the temperature is upward of 55 degrees.

    Put Mutliple Birds Together

    • Gouldian finches are social birds and require a companion Finch. They are sociable to their own species and do much care to be petted or held. They like to be around their own kind, and a solitary Gouldian finch will not survive in captivity. Gouldian finches should have at least one cage mate of their own species, although a small flock of four to five birds is ideal for their social well-being.

    Feeding Gouldian Finches

    • Managing a proper diet is an important aspect of caring for Gouldian finches. These birds require a good amount of protein and calcium in their diet, especially in their breeding season. Meal worms and eggs are a good source of protein and can be kept in the feeding cup of their cages. A separate cup can be kept which has greens like lettuce, celery and so on. A cuttlebone has calcium and feeding the bird with this, will also provide a good aid to its digestion.