The Gould's diamond is a very showy bird native to Australia that has long been present in aviaries throughout Europe. Their colors are very vivid and, therefore, they are very beautiful birds. However, Gouldian finches are quite delicate and breeding these birds in captivity is not always easy.
There are very prolific pairs that take very good care of their chicks and others that don't. If you are interested in having your Gouldian finch mate breed you should know the needs of this species. They are animals that are easily stressed and need stable conditions of temperature and light. In this article on our site we explain the main points to keep in mind when raising these small animals.
Gould's Diamond Match
If you own several specimens of Gouldian finch, it is advisable that the pairs establish themselves. Usually it is the female who chooses, but this is not always the case. If they choose their partner naturally, it is more likely that during the laying and care of the eggs the couple will be more collaborative. If no pair is formed, we must create it ourselves.
When forming the Gould diamond pair, specimens must be adults, at least 9 months old, and must have their own space In this way, we will have to offer them an independent cage or a separation within a large cage. They must have enough space to be able to fly and later incorporate the nest. If you have more Gouldian diamonds at home, do not space the cages too far. They will adjust better to their new cage if they are close to their old mates.
The temperature and brightness must be controlled. In the wild, these birds have about 12 hours of daylight and can withstand relatively high temperatures: an average of 30ºC during the day and 22ºC at night. It is sometimes difficult to precisely control the temperature. But we must pay attention and correct large variations. We can take as a reference an average of 25ºC during the day to ensure reproduction.
The brightness can be controlled so that a minimum is met. Make sure you have 12 hours a day of light. With different bulbs you can program the evenings to prolong the hours of light depending on where you live.
Pre-play symptoms
- The males are happier and more restless. They modify their song and make movements with their heads and legs towards the female. The beak can change color from orange to red.
- The females are also more active. They make head movements like the male. Increase your food and calcium intake. Widening of the caudal region.
Normally pairing takes place in early September.
Gould's Diamond Nest
After the pair has 15 days in their new cage we can introduce the nest. There are several types of nests on the market, although wooden nests with an entrance where they can perch and spacious inside are perfect for these animals. Diamondbacks mate inside the nest, so there must be room for both.
The most used materials for the construction of the nest are the following:
- Dry grass or grass
- Coconut fiber
- Jute threads
All the materials you put in the cage must be free of insects and dirt.
The male is in charge of building the nest. You must deposit the twigs and straws on the floor of the cage and watch as he picks them up and takes them to the wooden box. Sometimes they build with the female inside the box, but not always.
The male may be somewhat aggressive towards the female at this stage. You shouldn't worry, it's normal.
Laying the eggs
In the following days the female will lay 5 or 6 white eggs. The number can vary up to 10 but not everyone may come out ahead. The female usually stays inside the nest for the first few moments and the male outside. Laying will begin early October
At night the female will cover the eggs and in the morning, when she comes down to feed, the male will come in to cover them
Behavior change
After spawning and until the chicks hatch, the couple can change their behaviour. Sometimes young couples can behave aggressively towards each other. The female may prevent him from entering the nest at times. We must never separate them, they will gradually take care of reestablishing the hierarchy. We will observe if the couple collaborates and we will intervene only in situations of abandonment of eggs or excessive aggressiveness between the couple.
Bathtub
It is essential to introduce a bathtub on the floor of the cage at this stage. During incubation, females wet their feathers to increase humidity. The water should be changed every day.
Birth
Hatching will take place 14 days after spawning. The chicks will remain in the nest for 28-30 days.
After hatching, 24 or 48 hours later, you should observe and remove the eggs that have not prospered. Also, at this time a good nutrition of the parents is essential. We can prepare a breeding paste at home based on couscous or buy it at your specialized pet store. This paste provides the necessary nutrients to feed the young.
Chickens out of the nest
At 28-30 days the chicks begin to leave the nest. At first they are very clumsy, so you have to pay attention to them. They are very sensitive to intense light, so it is advisable not to expose them to it.
We can use this moment to clean the nest without removing it from the cage. The chicks will continue to enter the nest for at least 40 days approximately.
On the other hand, it is not recommended to separate Gould's Diamondback fledglings from their parents until they are eating on their own. This fact will occur after 40 days and depending on each pigeon.
At 80 days the color change begins. At this time we can move the young to another cage separate from their parents. By now the parent pair should be preparing for a new litter.
New cage
Moving to the new cage should not be a big change. 80 days have passed since his birth. We must maintain the food and the conditions that we maintained in the cage that they shared with their parents. It is better not to separate the litter and not to introduce other new individuals into the cage.
The duration of the change of molt can vary, depending on the feeding and conditions of temperature and humidity. It usually ends in the third or fourth month but sometimes it can last up to a year.
Nurses
Due to the difficulty of breeding Gouldian diamonds in captivity, it is customary to use other species such as the Isabelitas of Japan or the Mandarin diamondThese species are excellent caretakers of the offspring of other birds, so they can act as foster parents for the young of the Gouldian finch. It is a practice widely used by breeders since the results are very good. However, although it may be difficult the first few times, it is always better for the parents themselves to take care of the offspring. This way they will be more effective in future layings.
In the image we can see a mandarin diamond next to gouldian diamonds.
Gould Diamond Reproduction
As we have seen, from the pairing in September, it will take a month to spawn. After 14 days of incubation, the eggs will hatch and the chicks will remain in the nest for another 30 days. They will begin to leave the nest and feed themselves after this period. After 80 days after hatching, the pigeons begin to change their coloration, until they completely shed their breeding down and presenting the coloration of an adult specimen.
It is very important Caring for hygiene throughout the process. Bowls, drinkers and tubs in the cage should be cleaned regularly. With the necessary care and attention you will be able to raise the offspring of Gouldian diamonds.
