Gouldian Gender

[KGoens]

A few months ago I bought a pair of juvenile gouldians. They are coloring out, now. I was wondering if you guys knew what color they will turn out to be, and their gender? I know the bird on the bottom will be BH WB, but I'm not sure of the gender. Also...does anyone know of any gouldians for sale in Missouri? Thanks!

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/5291/gouldiansur1.jpg

[Shirley]

I used to have Goulds, and raised a few, and have a friend who is very successful. Without know the colors of their parents, color can't be predicted. Also, my friend had one that looked like a female through a couple moults, and it was a long time before the male colors came in. He bought it as a male, and was beginning to wonder if he had a female.

[KGoens]

Oh, really? Wow. I wish I could find some more to purchase where I live. I only know of one breeder, she has her own store dedicated to birds, but I want some variety in the genetics, just in case I choose to breed them. I could order some, but the price of shipping is crazy!

[Shirley]

Are you in the St. Louis area? We might be going there the first of April for a couple days... I'd have to arrange it with one of the two breeders I know... or... you could come to the April 29 Bird Fair here in Indpls...

[KGoens]

Nah, I'm in Kansas City. I wish I could drive. (I don't have my license yet) But maybe I can talk my mom into it.

[Shirley]

How cool to have a young person who's so interested in birds join our board! My neighbor, Annie, began her interest at age 7-1/2 (she's 11-1/2 now)and she used to come over to handfeed our parrotlets. Now she has her own Bourke's, a year later got a mate for her, and now raises babies of her own!

Gouldians are very fragile... I no longer keep them.

Here's a link to photos of my first clutch:

Steve and Shirley's Gouldian Finches (http://www.shirleymorgan.com/Gouldian/Gouldian-babies.html)

[KGoens]

That's so cool! I would love to handfeed a bird, but I hear its almost impossible for finches. Plus I would feel horrible taking a baby from perfectly capable parents and have it end up dying on me. I've had parakeets in the past..now all I have are finches (zebras and gouldians). I've bred my zebras a few times. I hope to breed gouldians in the future. I just hate that you have to wait a year or two to do it!

[Shirley]

I don't handfeed baby finches... unless it's the only way to save one's life. I've handfed three society finches - all in sad shape at the outset, and all with pin feathers already... one survived to adulthood. I'd say it's only "easy" if you've learned to feed larger species first.

[KGoens]

Ok, since you've had some gouldians at one point, I've got another question for you...

Well, as I already said, I have two gouldians together already, mixed in with 3 zebra finches. I may be getting a Society soon. But anyway, can you keep more than one pair of Gouldian Finches together? My pair doesn't seem to be all snuggly or anything like the Zebras, but they dont fight, either.

[Shirley]

Yes, you can keep all sorts of combinations of Gouldians together, unlike zebras. Societies also do very well together. Of course, you may not know who the parents of your babies are...