|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
| Seeds, Supplies & Supplements |
|---|
Keeping and breeding Gouldian Finches is a job that brings high reward, but at the same time requires good hygiene and management practices. As with all birds there is a need for quality care. The cleanest water should always be available (changed fresh at least daily), seed should be fresh and free of any foreign objects (i.e. bird poop removed as soon as possible!), to avoid contamination, and the aviary itself needs to be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis.
You have probably read the same information many, many times before, on other sites regarding birds of all kinds. I suppose then I would like to repeat it due to the frequency with which we get asked about how we maintain our birds, especially with respect to hygiene, etc.
In fact we find that we do change the water more often than is probably necessary (and indeed more often than when we first started years ago - not that it was ever dirty though!), sometimes twice a day, depending on the state of it. We also limit the amount of seed (but maintain adequate amounts) available for consumption. This ensures the seed has a higher turnover rate (thereby being fresher) and allows us to change the seed type/variety when we want, without leaving too much waste or uneaten seed.
In addition we also provide year-round regular supplies of shell grit, egg shells, oyster shells (crushed) and greens (lettuce, spinach, endive, etc.). Greens are usually provided once a day during breeding times and less during winter. And we also use some medicinal/supplemental products throughout the year to help boost the overall quality of our birds' health.
So, we have designed this page to help identify various seed types (that we use regularly) and some products we have found to have made a great difference in our management routine. We use them because we feel they work - and over the years they have increased our general bird quality (with regard to physical health) dramatically.
It should be pointed out of course that there are many similar products available from other manufacturers, that may work just as well as those shown here, but again people often ask us about the products we use, so we have highlighted those particular ones. So as to avoid any unfavourable feedback we point out that we have no affiliation with the manufacturer/s of these products and have only included links to the manufacturer/s as a convenience to visitors.
Various Seeds & Minerals We use several varieties of seed throughout the year. We ensure that we have enough to satisfy them at all times and that it is of the highest quality. The images below indicate seeds we use all year round. Although some types have a greater fat/oil content than others - especially niger - it is still given on a continual basis, although in lesser amounts. In addition we give them Spray Millet when we can get it. They love it and tear it to shreds!
Products and Supplements
When we first started keeping Gouldians our routine was very simple: clean water, seed and greens. Since then we have learnt a great deal about what's right, what's wrong and what proper hygiene and good management practices are. Most of our lessons have been learnt through trial and error, the result of asking as many questions as possible, reading as much material as we can find and listening to suggestions.As time progressed we started to use products to aid our efforts. These included supplements to help sick birds (of which we've had a few over the years), to increase calcium during the breeding season, keep water sources crystal clear and free from harmful bacteria, disinfectants to clean the aviaries, etc. The items shown below are all produced by a company called Vetafarm. Visit the Vetafarm Birds Products Page to learn more details about these items.
Site Index
'G & G Gouldians': Copyright 2004/5
