ORIGINS
The Lady Gouldian resides in the  tropical parts of northern Australia.  They are currently endangered in the wild due to loss of natural habitat as well as an infestation of air sac mites in the wild. Fortunately, they are well established in American Aviculture. 

SEXING
Lady Gouldians come in a variety of mutations.  Head colors can be red, black or orange.  Breast  colors can be purple, white or lavender.  Back colors can be green, blue or yellow.  Regardless of the mutation you choose,  all are fairly easy to sex.  The males have much brighter colors both on chest and belly. New mutations are being established at a surprising pace. 

HOUSING
Lady Gouldians can be kept in pairs or colonies.  The gouldian is a peaceful bird that does well in  a mixed flight. When cage breeding, I use a 3’ x 2’ cage.  Although they will breed in a somewhat  smaller cage, they are somewhat prone to obesity when housed in too small a space.

DIET
Basic finch mix, cuttlebone, oyster shell, and, of course, fresh water. Spray millet will be greatly  appreciated on occasion and is essential when raising chicks. Also provide Feast soft food and sprouted  seed during breeding.  Some will eat small meal worms but many will raise their offspring with no live food offered. Gouldians seem to need more iodine than some of the other finches.  Insufficient iodine results in balding around the head and neck.  Additional iodine can be provided by adding any of the commercial iodine products available or adding grated cuttlebone to the sprouted seed. On my products page, I offer a liquid Kelp that is readily accepted and provides the additional iodine needed.   I also serve Daily essentials 3 on their softfood daily and calcivet 2x/week.  During breeding, increase the calcivet to 5 times per week and add Proboost supermax to the softfoods to provide the increased protein needed.

BREEDING
Gouldians normally breed from September through March.  When they are in breeding condition, the color on their beaks will become darker.  Gouldians have a reputation for being somewhat picky about their mates.  I have found that by houseing the males and females sepertely until their beaks color, the birds will eagerly accept any mate I give them.  Gouldians are generally poor nest builders although  this varies with individuals.  It is best to deposit some nesting materials in the nest box to get them  started.  They seen to prefer a half open nest box (5"x5" or larger) lined with fine grasses.  The male will grab a long piece of nesting material in his beak and bob up and down in front of the female while  puffing out his chest. Soon both the male and female will begin checking out the nesting recepticales.  Once they have found one that meets with both their approval, they will then both retire to the nest box for mating.  The female lays  between 4-8 eggs.  Incubation usually begins after the 4th egg is laid.  Incubation is 16 days.  The  chicks fledge at 15 days.  Chicks are normally independent 29 days later.  Goulds are rather slow to mature.  They often take 4-6 months to molt into their adult colors.  Increasing the temperature and protein in  the diet throughout the early development will not only help produce stronger healthier chicks,  it will also help them molt into their adult colors sooner.   You can add Proboost supermax to increase the protein in the softfood.