I take the diet of my birds very seriously. Between personal experience and research I have found diet to be of the utmost importance in taking care of these birds as pets and/or as breeders.  Lady Gouldian Finches need a large amount of protein in their diets. Protein in my breeding program is served in the form of spray millet, hard-boiled eggs, Breeders Blend or Feather Fast, China Prairie sprouted seed mix and CeDe Insect Food.

Also, as in most laying hens, calcium is also required in the diets which I provide through Calcium Plus, cooked egg shells and oyster shell.

Each morning I prepare for the birds a mixture of China Prairie soak seed, 2-3 grated hardboiled eggs, ½ cup CeDe Insect food. I give  Breeders Blend for the breeding birds and Feather Fast to the molting birds, Breeders Blend is a vitamin supplement in addition to 80% whey protein for overall health and breeding condition.  Feather Fast is a supplement for the molting bird that is 20% whey protein with vitamin supplements, I also sprinkle China Prairie’s Universal Fresh Addition, a green food supplement. And to keep things interesting, every other day I’ll add any one of the following; chopped kale or mustard greens, peas, corn, brown rice, pasta, ground almonds (a good source of calcium) or grated carrots. The above is served in the morning and removed after 2 hours.

Fresh water is also given everyday.  I soak the birds water tubes in anti bacterial soap mixed with bleach for no less than 10 minutes everyday. In their fresh water I add Calcium Plus, Liquid Iodine, and Sparkle.  If at anytime I’ve needed to treat my birds or an individual bird with an antibiotic, I’ll follow that up Probiotic in their water for approximately two weeks.

Calcium Plus is a calcium supplement that should only be served five times a week in breeding birds and only twice a week in non breeding birds! If served everyday the bird becomes dependent upon this as their only source of calcium and then is unable to absorb other sources of calcium, i.e. egg shells or oyster shell.

Liqui Iodine is an iodine supplement that aids in the formation of new feathers and can be served everyday.

Probiotic is a probiotic that adds additional “good bacteria” and begins to work once it hits the gut.

I add Sparkle to prevent “bad” bacteria from growing in the water. It is designed to keep the water sparkling clean and provides you the option to change water every other day if need be.

Birds have available to them at all times a mixture of Volkman's Avian Science Super Finch Seed, spray millet, CeDe Eggfood and a mixture of mineral grit and oyster shell.

If you are having trouble getting your Gouldian’s to eat soft foods you can keep a canary hen in the cage to act as a “teacher” bird. Canaries will eat and play with anything, they are a very curious and active bird ready to explore at a moments notice. The Gouldians watch the canaries and become curious themselves. Their curiosity gets the best of them and they will then try the new food or play with the toy.

I have worked and continue to work hard at giving these birds only the best of everything I can lay my hands on, as a result I have been greatly rewarded with finely feathered, healthy Lady Gouldian Finches with strong immune systems.

The link below will take you to China Prairie to purchase their soak seed (you want the micro version) and the Universal Fresh Addition. http://www.chinaprairie.com