Finches

The Finch has been of particular interest to Dr Marshall since the mid 1980's when the mutations bred under Bengalese parents developed very disappointing breeding results. With the help of John Sammut, Dr Marshall developed health programmes that dramatically improved the breeding of these fragile birds. At the same time, Polyomavirus was found to be involved with these poor breeding results. This discovery was presented to the AAV International Conference 1989. In 1990, as co-author with John Sammut, Dr Marshall explained the best methods for breeding the mutation Gouldian finches in the book "A guide to breeding the Gouldian". The second edition of this book is soon to be released through Australian Bird Keeper. Dr Marshall has also recently published his world-renowned book, entitled "Gouldian Finch Health"

Dr Marshall knew that if his health programmes and products were successful with the most fragile members of the finch family, the beautiful mutation Gouldian finch, then they would be extremely useful for all seed-eating birds.

Dr Marshall used the canary and mutation Gouldian finch to test the effectiveness of this super health product range and health programmes, because both of these birds are highly susceptible to disease. The finch birds are special in the bird kingdom because their bowel is totally free of all bacteria in the healthy state. This means that when their diet is not perfect and their cage or aviary is not perfectly dry and clean, then they become susceptible to illness.

The health programmes became a very important part of breeding the inbred and fragile Gouldians and they are now used successfully for all finches. Particularly good results have been found with exhibition canaries and ornamental aviaries. The health products made it much easier to breed finches. As well, there were far less illnesses so common during the breeding season and during the stressful first juvenile moult.

The secret in breeding the fragile finches rests with:

• Selecting robust birds only for breeding.
• Providing enough energy and the correct protein balance to the feeding parents.
• To pre-treat the flock for Ornithosis (Chlamydiophila infection) prior to breeding when infertility and hatching problems have been experienced in previous seasons.
• To control a build up of germs especially in wet weather by using water cleansers.

Gouldian Finches

The following is an excerpt from Dr Rob Marshall's new "Gouldian and Finch Health" book.

The glorious colour of the Gouldian's plumage is matched by its equally appealing nature. Shy in nature but gregarious in an aviary with its own kind it has a reputation as one of the more difficult finches to breed. Nowadays with modern knowledge it is a much easier finch to breed. The Gouldian Finch becomes a prolific breeder and a joy to keep when its behaviour in the wild and idiosyncrasies in the aviary are understood allowing its special needs to be met.

The breeding of "coloured" mutations presents a completely new challenge for Gouldian breeders because the problems of "normal" Gouldians are magnified in these far more sensitive and fragile coloured birds. Rarely are the coloured mutations in parrots and finches as beautiful as the colours of nature, and the normal coloured Gouldian is a jewel in the crown of the bird kingdom, but the colour combinations of mutation Gouldians are as stunning as the audacious hues of nature's Gouldian.

Mutations are mistakes of nature and in the natural environment are unlikely to survive. The unenviable challenge for Gouldian enthusiasts is to produce coloured birds in large numbers. This is no easy task because unknown genetic flaws that weaken offspring lurk in the aberrant colour of mutations. Inbreeding is essential for creating a coloured strain but it often produces weak "coloured" offspring further complicating the development of a viable healthy strain. The challenge of breeding coloured mutations is met by paying special attention to feeding, housing and the selection of breeding birds that are strong and vital.

Gouldian personality
Gouldians are shy birds in their natural habitat and are the last finches to come to water in the morning and evening. In line with their retiring personality, breeding results are better when they are housed with their own kind and are not disturbed. Cocks and hens, however, are protective of their nests and need space for undisturbed breeding. For breeding colour mutations up to five established breeding pairs can bred successfully together in a 3m x 2m aviary. At the beginning of the breeding season when more than two virgin breeding pairs are housed together in a similar sized aviary surveillance of virgin breeders is necessary to identify problem pairs that may compete for breeding sites and cause subsequent breeding failures.

Signs of Breeding Condition
Cocks in "breeding condition" sing and courtship prance to the hens incessantly. The enriched colour of their plumage and beak are signs that the cock is hormonally primed and ready to breed. The beak changes from a dull grey hue to the bright, opal, satin white colour of "breeding condition".

It is more difficult to detect a hen in "breeding condition". Her beak turns almost black in colour and as she is ovulating her rump pushes upward and she drops her tail more vertically. She may also sing to the cock bird and carry nesting material in her beak.

An understanding of the notion of "breeding condition" and its important association with breeding success, breeding failure and the enjoyment of the keeping Gouldians cannot be over emphasised.

Susceptibility to Cold and Wet Conditions
Temperatures are warm in the natural tropical range of Gouldians where unlike other Australian finches they thrive during the extreme summer heat. Other Australian finches wilt as the temperatures rise above 35 degrees Celsius but Gouldians are best at these high temperatures and enjoy bathing in the direct sunshine much more than other finches. They are most active and look their best when basking in direct sunshine and when it is hot. Keep this in mind when breeding Gouldians in an aviary or enclosed room. Flighted aviaries that capture the morning sun help with health problems and sustain breeding activity into the cooler months of the year. Provisions should also be made for additional perches to be placed in the open flight area during hot weather for water baths and sunbaking.

Gouldians look dejected and fluff up during wet overcast weather. They breed best in aviaries away from the humidity of the coast preferring countryside weather conditions of clear skies and hot temperatures that resemble the climate of their natural breeding habitat. The migratory behaviour of the wild Gouldian supports this view. They move northward from their breeding habitat towards the coast during dry winter months when their food supplies have become depleted and return inland in summer after the arrival of the monsoon wet season brings prolonged cloud cover and frequent rains. This northern extremity of their range rarely supports breeding activity. Breeding activity is awakened by extended rains that provide grass-seeds and insects in numbers to support the rearing young. The low humidity (dry air), high temperatures and clear skies of the savanna woodlands away from the coastal humidity and rainfall provide these conditions. Breeding problems should also be expected when similar cloudy, wet conditions prevail.

Copyright © 2004 Rob Marshall, All Rights Reserved.