I provide my Gouldians with a fairly simple diet. This is mainly due to the fact that I just do not have the time to provide soft foods. They can survive without the benefits of soft foods as long as you supplement the diet with extra vitamins and minerals.

The following diet seems to provide sufficient protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins to ensure that my colony moult, breed and stay strong and healthy.


Seed

I buy a 20-kilogram bag of a Premium Brand Finch Breeders mix. It has a mixture of all the necessary smaller seeds. I store the seed in a large plastic bin so that the mice, if any are about, cannot get into it. 

Sometimes I add an extra tray of Canary seed during the breeding season. I also plant the seed within the aviary in the dirt and the Gouldians go wild over the green seed heads. I also grow it in long narrow plastic flower boxes.




Egg & Biscuit Mix

During breeding and the moult I provide a small beaker of Avione Egg & Biscuit mix. Any of the other brands are OK. I just buy the one that is available. Sometimes I spread it on the seed as well. I only give it in the dry form because I have found it is too risky to leave wet food around in the Melbourne weather as it goes off quickly. My Gouldians love it whether it is the breeding season or the moulting season.

I buy the Aristopet 300 gram container. Again I place this in a small beaker similar to the dry egg and biscuit mix and supply at various times throughout the year. The Gouldians love it and the oyster shell provides essential calcium, minerals and iodine. The charcoal aids digestion and provides carbon.

To further ensure they are getting the necessary vitamins and minerals I add a drinking water supplement.

I have used Vetafarm's Soluvet Liquid Vitamins in the past.

Recently I have been able to get my hands on a powder called Ornithon Powder by the INCA Flight Company.

Both are excellent products packed with various necessary constituents including iodine which is necessary during the moult.

Finally

All year round they have access to cuttlefish. It is a good source of calcium, vitamins and minerals not to mention a way to keep their beaks trim. Also just prior to and during the breeding season, baked egg shells. See the  TIPS  page on how to prepare them. 

I also buy millet sprays when available, which they love to it!

Oh and remember don't use feed hoppers ! Gouldians are a very social finch. They love to eat together from trays and seed thrown in the grass and dirt!

A good diet will reflect in the Gouldians behaviour and health. So if you are having problems you might need to review their diet. The following articles provided by Vetafarm are worth reading.

FEEDING YOUR BIRD   VITAMINS FOR YOUR BIRD

Revised 08/2003