Do you have a question that you have not found an answer for throughout this website or in my FAQ? Use this link to send your question directly to me. Be as specific as possible about the symptom or behavior in question...
Dr. Rob is a world renowned avian veterinarian in Sydney, Australia. He was the veterinary consultant for the Northern Territory Nature and Conservation Commission for a scientific study of the disease status in the wild population of the endangered Gouldian Finches as it related to a "Recovery Plan".
Tailai O’Brien is a Parrot Behavior Consultant who has worked along side Dr. Marshall and has developed special regimes for successful bird training and behavioral development. Fill out her Questionnaire so that she may help you with your parrot’s bad behavior.
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Save the Gouldian Fund
A portion of all of our sales will be donated to the fund, in the hope that we may contribute in a small way to saving the wild
Laura Warlick from New Braunfels, Texas asks: I will soon be building a large aviary for my birds including an outside enclosure. Is it best to keep my gouldians inside in a temperature controlled environment (our home), or will they be okay in high summer temps.? The inside of the aviary will be temp controlled if they choose to go inside. There will also be fresh cool bathing water at their disposal. Thanks!
Hello Laura, Gouldians can do well in higher temperatures. They can become stressed when temperatures and humidity fluctuate significantly in a short period of time. It is best that they are housed with as little rapid changes in temperature or humidity. Gradual changes should not cause any harm. All the Best, Rob
David Loeffler from Pittsburgh, PA asks: I am thinking about getting a pair of gouldians and breeding them. What would you recommend the size of the flight cage and what advice do you have for a beginner like me. Thanks!
Hello David, I would always recommend the largest cage that you can afford and have space to accommodate in your home or aviary. For a full time living quarter I would say at least 36 inches wide by 36 inches high and 24 inches deep for a pair of finches and their possible offspring until the juveniles are independent and can be living on their own. The larger the living quarters you can provide for your birds, the more exercise they will receive and the healthier they will be. All the Best, Rob
Serena Soape from Somerdale, NJ asks: I have a pair of paradise whydah finches that I have had less than a month. The male in the last week shed his tail - which is normal and just in the last few days and he started sleeping a lot. Well today, the female is fine and eating and seems to be healthy. However the male died today. We took him out of the cage this morning and checked him and found nothing out of the ordinary however the other birds were harassing him. What could have happened and what could have caused this?
Hello Serena, When birds are purchased and moved to a new home they are placed into a stressful condition. Your cock Whydah may not have been in total good health. The stress of the move, compounded by the other birds picking on him, suppressed his immune system allowing some environmental pathogen to make him sick. Unfortunately, at this point it probably will be impossible to tell what organism caused his death. I am sorry that you lost this beautiful bird. All the Best, Rob
Diane Malesky from Coopersburg, PA asks: We've had 2 zebra finches for approximately 6 years. Unfortunately, after much effort we've lost one. We're now down to one male. The other was a male too. They really cared for each other. They slept together, preened each other, etc... It's been several months now and I was wondering if this is cruel to have just one bird? I have his cage in front of the window with a huge bird feeder that has birds at it all day long. I have plenty of things for him in his cage and we put a mirror in about a month ago. He stares in the mirror. He did just start building a new nest though - for the first time. The other male was more dominant. I feel sad for him and am not sure if he's happy. My husband doesn't want to introduce another bird. Just wondering what your opinion is and if you have any further suggestions. Thank You!! Diane
Hello Diane, Zebra finches are social birds in nature. They travel in flocks, and therefore should be housed with "friends" in captivity. If you are unable to provide another companion, perhaps you know a friend who also has birds and can give your lonely pal a good home. All the Best, Rob
Joanne Smith from Omaha asks: I adopted a one legged finch. His leg was removed yesterday. How should I care for it?
Hello Joanne, I would advise you to keep him in a cage without perches for one week, then introduce perches for a week, then into aviary under surveillance for a few days. Adding a vitamin/mineral supplement like NV Powder which also contains glucose and electrolytes will help him through this stressful period of adjustment. All the Best, Rob
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Do you have a question that you have not found an answer for throughout this website or in my FAQ? Use this link to send your question directly to me. Be as specific as possible about the symptom or behavior in question...
Tailai O’Brien is a Parrot Behavior Consultant who has worked along side Dr. Marshall and has developed special regimes for successful bird training and behavioral development. Fill out her Questionnaire so that she may help you with your parrot’s bad behavior.
