Hi mick Here. Just want to add something. So gouldians are quite similar to canaries when collecting material for nest building . Gouldians will collect mouthfuls of nesting material at a time (not single long strands like most grass finches) I offer short lengths of dry couch. Fine grasses are a favourite. Have never seen em use feathers. Avoid coconut fibre. Leg bands, toe nails get caught up and ive had chicks caught up and dragged out of the nest as a result. Grass grass and only grass for nesting. Happy breeding. Mick
Oh lovely compliment. Thank you. So the roof is fully sheeted out with mouse proof wire mesh. Over that I have areas covered with clear corrugated acrylic sheets.(to prevent rain but allow light. Other areas are covered with corrugated tin sheeting and insulated with sheets of marine ply (tin gets hot in summer and will fry chicks in nest that are close to roof. I use rolls of mesh 1.2 metres high (4 ft) I butt these sheets together and hand stitch with fine wire where they meet. Paint mesh matt black (so it vanishes). And viola!!! hope this helps. More than happy to clarify anything more.
Ok so these guys in my experience are sexually mature at 6 months. In 40yrs of keeping gouldians, I've witnessed chick tossing once. And they were cannibalised by the adults. Was an overcrowded cage at the time. Puzzling at the time. Hasnt happened since. Always a learning curve. No such thing as always and never when talking about bird behaviour. Am guilty of that but you know what i mean 😅
Hi mick Here. Just want to add something. So gouldians are quite similar to canaries when collecting material for nest building . Gouldians will collect mouthfuls of nesting material at a time (not single long strands like most grass finches) I offer short lengths of dry couch. Fine grasses are a favourite. Have never seen em use feathers. Avoid coconut fibre. Leg bands, toe nails get caught up and ive had chicks caught up and dragged out of the nest as a result. Grass grass and only grass for nesting. Happy breeding. Mick
Beautiful aviary! What did you use on the roof? Is it wire mesh of some kind? And how did you put it up in such a huge piece? Impressive.
Oh lovely compliment. Thank you. So the roof is fully sheeted out with mouse proof wire mesh. Over that I have areas covered with clear corrugated acrylic sheets.(to prevent rain but allow light. Other areas are covered with corrugated tin sheeting and insulated with sheets of marine ply (tin gets hot in summer and will fry chicks in nest that are close to roof. I use rolls of mesh 1.2 metres high (4 ft) I butt these sheets together and hand stitch with fine wire where they meet. Paint mesh matt black (so it vanishes). And viola!!! hope this helps. More than happy to clarify anything more.
I just put up a short of how I join em. Thanks again
Thankyou. Very helpful information .but I can't seem to find the short?
@kelemead me either! My sister is the one behind the camera. I'll get her to do it. Will be a close up photo hopefully today. Thanks again. Mick
@kelemead I've found where the short went. Search "michael faydherbe" let me know if sufficient? Cheers
Ok so these guys in my experience are sexually mature at 6 months. In 40yrs of keeping gouldians, I've witnessed chick tossing once. And they were cannibalised by the adults. Was an overcrowded cage at the time. Puzzling at the time. Hasnt happened since. Always a learning curve. No such thing as always and never when talking about bird behaviour. Am guilty of that but you know what i mean 😅