Welcome to the homepage of Cheryl Bouwer, a specialist Gouldian Finch breeder in the heart of Gauteng. Cheryl’s love for Gouldian Finches and all its different mutations, has changed her loving hobby into a passionate small business.
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Finch Heaven is a natural paradise that Cheryl Bouwer created at her home for Gouldian finches. What started as a hobby evolved in an exciting and successful niche business.
To breed such beautiful Gouldians takes alot of dedication, time and effort. Part of her success recipe is her daily love and passion towards her birds, including successfully balancing and monitoring the Gouldian finches’ complex diet that includes everything from Japanese millet, broccoli, carrots, boiled eggs, soft food mix and cuttlefish bone. Because Cheryl works full-time, she does her marketing on weekends, which involves regularly posting beautiful photos on Finch Heaven’s Facebook page as well as tips and advice on how to keep them healthy and prosperous.
Cheryl was recently featured on the well-known niche market television programme “Nisboere”. Click here to view the episode.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: When is Breeding Season?
There are 4 periods/seasons in a Gouldian’s natural life that one tries to copy in captivity:
1. Breeding season = 6 months (February to July)
2. Molting season = 3 months (August to October)
3. Resting season = 2 months (November to December)
4. Pairing of Gouldians during (January) in order for breeding to start during February.
Introduction of soft food for optimal health during the breeding season.
Question 2: What kinds of seeds are used for their diet?
1. Breeding diet
45% Canary Seed, 15% Japanese Millet, 15% White Millet, 10% Red Manna, 10% Niger Seed, 5 % Grass Seed, Sesame and Linseed
2. Maintenance diet
35% Canary Seed, 20% Japanese Millet, 20% White Millet, 20% Red Manna, 5% Niger Seed
3. Austerity diet
50% White Millet, 50 % Red Manna
Question 3: What is in the Gouldian Finch SOFT FOOD RECIPE?
- 2 KG JAPANESE MILLET
Place the Japanese Millet in a large plastic container with a lid in lukewarm water . Add 5ml safe sprout (to prevent seed from becoming sour). Soak for 2 hours and mix twice.
Very important: After 2 hours, drain the excess water with a sieve, place the lid on and let it stand in the sun for 1-2 days until the seeds start sprouting. Mix twice. The seed must just break open with a short white sprout. Seed must never smell sour.
- 1 BROCCOLI (cut the points off)
- 1 PACKET OF CARROTS (grated fine)
- 8 BOILED EGGS
Take the eggs out of the shell and mince it with a fork. The shells can also be crushed and added to the mixture. Eggs shells are rich in calcium and very important during the breeding season, especially for Hens as it prevents them from becoming egg bound.
- HALF A PACKET OF SOFT FOOD (pink bag)
- HALF A PACKET OF EGGFOOD WITH PROTEIN (yellow bag)
These highlighted ingredients are the main ingredients, vitamins such Aminovit-H powder and Plumeplus oil (especially during winter) can also be added just before serving the softfood.
Mix together and place in containers which you can freeze.
Question 4: What is spray millet?
It is a source of magnesium, protein and calcium. It is seed left on the stalk and provides a treat for them. They really love it!
Question 5: What makes Gouldians so special?
They are the most beautiful and colourful finch in the world. They make soft sounds. There is a visible difference between males and females as the male’s plumage is much brighter than females. The female’s beak turns black when she is in breeding condition.
They all go through a moulting period once a year where they lose all their feathers and colour up again. This is a very stressful period and they would need extra supplements such as Premolt and Avistress to help them through.
Wind and temperatures under 10 degrees are two huge enemies of the Gouldian.
Question 6: What type of nests do they use?
The L-shape nest which has a bridge when the bird enters the nest with a deeper side where the nest is darker. The Gouldian finch babies are born with “nodules” or “pips” on the side of their beaks which illuminate in the dark for the parents to see where to feed.
