P. W. Teague—Gouldian Finches



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a time in small shallow dishes, and place these on a grid or a bunch

of used millet spray to keep dirt and sand from getting into it when

the birds hop on to the dish. Another thing by only placing a small

quantity in each dish the husks will not hide the seeds at the bottom.

Do not try to take a short cut to soften the seeds by boiling them, as

was once suggested to me. It is not the same because you do not

want to soften the seed only, it is the slow soaking which allows the seed

to germinate and get pulpy that is wanted, thus I suppose, producing

more naturally certain vitamins. In separate dishes offer a few short

oats and an occasional bit of crushed hemp seed, but be very sparing

with the latter as it appears to have a peculiar effect on the bowels.

I have also experimented with the use of C.L.O. for these birds with

unfortunate results and I regret to say I cannot recommend its use,

although I have had good results from it on other birds. I am now

experimenting with “ Radio-Malt ” by adding a small quantity to the

soaked seed mixture. The birds certainly enjoy this and like the malt

flavour. When rearing young also offer a little sweetened bread and

milk, or a bit of sponge cake soaked in milk, one or two small meal¬

worms, or a bit of insectile mixture. Some will eat a bit of egg and

biscuit, but I find the many proprietary brands of soft food are rarely

if ever, touched. I have tried nearly all makes, and even starved

the Gouldians in the attempt to induce them to eat it, but without

success. Give as many fresh seeding grasses daily as you can obtain,

their favourite being Rye grass (tinker-tailor grass). Also a clod

or turf of grass from which they will eat quite a lot of the tender blades.

I also turn these clods upside down for them to pick over, this they

greatly enjoy. I find they prefer tender grass to almost all other

green food, but they will eat lettuce, dandelion, and sow thistle and,

very occasionally, watercress. I also throw them chickweed, groundsell,

etc., but I have never seen them eat any. Keep ringing the changes

with your foods, except the staple seeds, and to borrow an expression

from the Marquess of Tavistock, “ Use some bird sense.” When

giving fresh grasses, pick these with long stems and place in a jar of water

to keep them fresh, taking care to fill the neck of the receptacle with

grass or something to prevent the birds attempting to reach the water

or you will surely have an accident. I have kept grasses fresh in this



