Before Buying your First Gouldian Finch
Finches are often an impulse buy at the pet store. I don’t blame you if you bought some this way. What’s not to like? They’re bright, pretty, intelligent, and curious. We fall for them easily. But some people say Gouldians are not beginner birds….
What the Pet Store Probably Told You…
Gouldian finches are only 4 to 5 inches long, and the pet store may have told you they fit in one of those itty bitty cages. That’s not true. Well, strictly speaking it is true – they fit. They just don’t thrive in there. Gouldians need to be able to fly in their cage; it’s good exercise and it keeps them healthy. Hopping from perch to perch doesn’t cut it. So before you do anything else, please buy at least a 30X18X18 cage for your finch.
Some Cages we Like:

If you are willing to go a little taller right off (it’s even better for the birds) try this white flight cage:
64″ Extra Large Wrought Iron Home Cage Easy to Clean Pull Out Tray with Removable Rolling Stand

Prevue Hendryx Wrought Iron Flight Cage, X-Large, Hammertone Black
I have several of these and I really like them. One reason is that I can remove the side panels and fasten 2 or 3 together.
There’s a little more room inside because there’s less storage underneath.
So it’s up to you: More room for flight, or more storage?
Feeding Lady Gouldians
Now that the cage thing is out of the way…. Did you know that a seed-only diet is unhealthy for birds? Most people think “bird seed” is all they eat. That’s not the case, if you want to keep them in good health. They can eat lots of people food, like kale, lettuce, spinach carrots, and more. They can eat finch pellets, which are fortified with vitamins. And they love hard boiled egg, which you can give them fresh or, if your time is limited, supply dry egg food. Below are the seed, egg food, and pellets for feeding your finches.
- Bird Seed
- Egg Food
- Harrison’s Pellets – be sure you get extra fine.
Those were the two main things for keeping Gouldian finches well even if you are a rank beginner. If you’d like to know more about keeping Gouldian finches, try one of these articles:
- Gouldian Finch Diet
- Gouldian Finch Tips
- Compatible species
- Article Index
FREE FINCH FEEDING GUIDE


