Correspondence



59



GOULDIAN FINCHES


Extract from a letter received from Mr. H. V. Highman, Hon. Secretary

of the Avicultural Society of Western Australia. This extract is given to

members on account of the information which it contains concerning the

Gouldian Finch


Most fanciers here find great trouble in rearing and keeping this

beautiful Finch. The cold nights seem the trouble. From two pairs I

have this season reared seventeen youngsters and the parents are still

nesting. My aviary is the outdoor ground type 12 by 9 by 7 feet high,

well protected from prevailing winds on two sides and on the other two

sides I hang a tarpaulin on a windy night. The top is half-roofed, but the

Gouldians roost in the open. For nests I use small cigar boxes about 6 by

6 inches with a high, small opening. The old birds I feed on Australian

hungarian millet and canary seed only. Greens in the way of thistle, etc.,

are eaten, but not in any big degree. Seeding grasses are a great favourite.


I forgot to mention, it is my opinion that two pair at least are needed

for success in breeding. I did not have any luck with single pairs. It may

be only fancy, but since keeping at least two pairs I have never looked back.


We have an excellent poultry preparation by name “ Merval ” over here,

and I use this in the drinking water weekly. I have been doing this for the

past seven months and my losses have been one Avadavat and one Goldfinch.

Naturally I swear by “Merval”.


With the young I find the parents maintain them with regurgitated seed,

but I also supplied white ants which were greatly relished. Young reared

on partly insect diet never look back, but reared on seed only they mostly

die at about six months when breaking into colour. I find ants’ eggs are also

soon devoured and, of course, the Virol recipe is faithfully applied.


Of course, in your country the extreme cold would be your problem and

I should say you would have to include some heat-giving quality in the diet.

Here the extreme heat is the bother.


I might say I am a great believer in seeing that all Finches roost at night

on a full “tummy”. They can then stand the cold better. With our

Finches enteritis is the main bother, but “ Merval ”, in my opinion, prevents

and cures.


Editor’s Note


The preparation “ Merval ” is not obtainable in New Zealand, but it is

a poultry conditioner as well as a cure for the majority of bird diseases caused

by bad condition of the stomach and intestines. The preparation “ Dimol ”

is useful for correcting trouble in these organs.


TALKING BUDGERIGAR



To Hon. Secretary,


Avicultural Society of N.Z.


I’m just going to give you a few additional details concerning our talking

Budgerigar which will probably interest you. I brought him inside the day

following that on which he left the nest, fed him on soaked seed and hulled

oats, and in a few days he was able to crack any seed. He is exactly nine

months old now and first started talking about three months ago. His



