Bird Health - Gouldians & other Finches

Introduction
The original "Gouldian & Finch Health" book is sold out. It was written to be used together with the acclaimed Second Edition of "Guide to Gouldians" published by ABK Publications and co-authored by John Sammut, Ron Tristam and Dr Rob Marshall.

This new online edition is called Gouldian Health and is an updated version of the original book and should also be used with these previous publications.

The information in this latest edition is practical in nature.

Articles concerning the underlying cause of airsac mite infestations and novel ways to control this very common disease are included with a simplified trouble shooting section compiled by Laraine McGinnis of USA.

As well, details of the feeding methods used by Alan Simpson – considered by many to be the most successful outdoor breeder of Blue Series birds in Australia- are included in this online book.

For those unable to keep Gouldian finches outdoors, Larraine McGinnis of USA shares her special methods for breeding all of the different colour varieties indoors.

Again, the requirements for breeding success in other finch species are also included in this edition.

The Health Programmes for these species as well as the Gouldian finch have been simplified with addition of new products such as Quik gel, which are used to improve their natural health and breeding performance. These programmes rely upon an understanding of the natural biology and individual needs of Gouldian and other finches.

There is so much still to learn about the lives of Gouldian finches and what they need to keep them happy and productive.

This second edition of the Gouldian Health book focuses on the importance of Gouldian happiness, warmth, direct sunlight, nest making and good health for breeding success. It continues to promote a "drug-free" approach to Gouldian rearing, a goal achieved when their needs are fully catered for and there is a strong level of gene based immunity present in the flock. At times, however medicines will be required to prevent the illnesses and deaths that occur as the result of poor management practices.

Finches in the Natural Environment
It is commonly accepted that finches achieve their best breeding results when provided with conditions as close to Nature as possible.

When feeding young, some species, such as the Zebra Finches, prefer to consume green seeds from seeding heads, whilst others search for insects as a source of additional protein during the breeding season. Knowledge of the requirements and evolutionary backgrounds of each finch species you keep will help achieve good breeding results, as the nutritional and ecological needs of different finch types are subtly different.

The grassland habitat, to which Estrilidines have adapted so well, must be simulated in an aviary setting if breeding success and continuing health, is to be achieved. In the wild, finches use their stout powerful beaks to de-husk, crush and eat the ripe seeds found on the ground. Similarly finches kept in captivity will also spend a lot of time on the floor of the aviary searching for food.

Gouldian and most grass-finches have adapted to the dryness and relative sterility of dry grassland soils so that they do not possess an innate resistance to moisture-related diseases that are a major cause of mortality in captivity. As ground eaters they are vulnerable to diseases associated with wet surroundings such as coccidiosis, thrush, bacterial and fungal infections. For this reason the aviary floor must be kept dry as these infections are more common when moisture is allowed to accumulate on the floor, in the air and around water troughs.

Strict water hygiene is essential to prevent the spread of disease, as Estrildines - except for desert species, Zebra and Painted Finches - must drink an enormous amount of water proportional to their body weight each day. Several different water cleansers (see Clients Only Section) are available to keep the water free of germs.

Illness and breeding difficulties are more likely when finches are deprived of direct sunlight or are housed in overcrowded conditions. A natural system for keeping finches healthy also requires a very good knowledge of each species particular requirements.

The best breeding results are achieved when:

Natural foods in the form of seeding grasses, live food or additional green foods are provided.

The aviary or cage is kept dry and the water pristine.

The birds are exposed to direct sunlight and have plenty of room to fly and feel comfortable.

Feeding Options
Feeding may become particularly time-consuming and complicated by the seasonal unavailability of seeding grasses, fresh greens and live food.

The Nutritional Products developed by Dr Marshall and described here online may be used to replace conventional feeding methods or be incorporated into any feeding system. They have been developed to provide finches with all they need to breed well and remain healthy with a minimum of fuss.

Classification of Estrildines
The Gouldian Finch is a unique member of the Estrildine family of finches. I like to divide Estrildines into four groups based upon their natural habitat and breeding cycles, because a system of classification that groups finch species with similar breeding cycles, ecological and nutritional requirements together permits a more precise method for keeping them vital and healthy in captivity.

Estrildines fall into one of the following groups: Tropical, Temperate, combined Tropical/Temperate and Arid-zone (dwelling) finches. These four groups of Estrildines have been classified according to their natural habitat and breeding cycle.

The Gouldian Finch (Chloebia gouldiae) is a unique member of the Tropical group exhibiting features that require special care in captivity and sets it aside from other members of this group.

The type of vegetation has determined the range and distribution of each species with the presence and availability of seeding grasses a common factor in the breeding cycle of Estrildine finches. Annual rainfall and climatic patterns also play an important part in the classification of Australian finches. A similar system of classification may be applied to non-Australian Estrildines.

Breeding patterns do vary from one finch species to another depending upon their evolutionary background. In the wild, breeding behaviour is controlled by natural forces that have evolved over millions of years and varies according to the habitat to which each species has adapted. Although the entire 124 species of the Estrildine group of finches are seedeaters surviving on the small seeds of grasses that drop to the ground, each species has special and different requirements. It is an understanding of these differences that helps improve breeding outcomes in captivity.

Pathways to Breeding Success
The health programmes described in this book are effective because they prevent undue stress on the birds. Alleviation of stress is achieved firstly by understanding the natural breeding cycle of each finch species and then ensuring they breed and moult at the same time as they do in Nature.

These times can be identified when each finch species is classified according to the rainfall pattern and habitat to which it first adapted in the wild. For example, spring breeding applies to Temperate-zone finches living in a winter rainfall region. Summer and autumn breeding applies to Tropical-zone finches and Arid-zone finches are opportunistic breeders that may breed year round.

Estrildine finch species can be classified by this geographic based system but keeping in mind that they also rely upon fairly high temperatures for breeding success.

Gouldian finches do best when temperatures are high.

In order to obtain the best breeding results the finches you intend to keep must be classified and housed in "like" groups. The geographic and climatic region in which you keep your birds, then, determines the most appropriate time to breed each group. For example, it may be too cold to breed Tropical-zone finches during winter in some inland southern states of Australia but these same species may breed happily in northern states that enjoy mild winters.

Finches achieve their best breeding results when provided with conditions as close to Nature as possible.

Finch enthusiasts should therefore anticipate more problems when their finches are allowed to breed during the months that are unusually cold, hot or when they should moult.

Recalling that most wild finches live and breed in hot climates then it is easier to understand the need of artificial heating for finches kept in cold climates and countries such as Europe and USA. Artificial heating is unnecessary for most outdoor aviaries common to Australian conditions unless they are Gouldian finches or mutations that are sensitive to the cold where they are being bred. These birds require protected roosts during cold and wet weather.

It must also be mentioned that indoor aviaries rarely provide the same breeding opportunities found in sun-drenched open-air aviaries. For many overseas finch keepers, however, it is not possible to have outdoor aviaries and when artificial (ultraviolet) light is provided their birds often breed quite well.

Estrildines must always be allocated an appropriate time for the moult, irrespective of whether they are housed indoors or out.

Except for Gouldians (Chloebia gouldiae), adult Estrildines should be allowed to moult during the heat of summer in areas where temperatures rise above 35 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit). Gouldians differ in that both adult and juvenile Gouldian finches should be allowed to complete their moult during spring so that they are ready to breed during the final months of summer and throughout autumn.