Originaire d’Australie, le Diamant de Gould arbore de magnifiques couleurs de plumage. Il est aussi un oiseau au tempérament fort agréable, gratifiant son entourage de très beaux chants et qui préfère les environnements calmes.
- Scientific name: Erythrura gouldiae
- Common name: Gould diamond
- Family: Estrilides
- Genus: Erythrura
- Origin: Australia
- Height: 13 to 15 cm
- Weight: 12 grams
- Lifespan: 5 to 8 years
- Diet: Granivore
- Legal status: Domestic
1. ITS CHARACTERISTICS
The Gould's Diamond is one of the most beautiful birds of the Estrilidae family. Despite its status as a domestic bird, it remains highly endangered in its natural habitat in Australia. At present, there are only 2500 birds left in the wild.
The Gould's Diamond is very popular with bird lovers because it has multiple colors that will delight beginners.
It usually has three colors on the body: one for the head, 1 for the back and wings, and one for the chest.
The colors of Gould's Diamond are very bright and very pronounced, especially in males. The female has slightly paler colors.
Basically, there are three types of wild Gould diamonds, which are characterized:
- A red, black, or orange head
- A green back and wings
- Purple breast
By reproducing, the mixture of these three types of color will become what is called "a mutation".
The color of the head, wings, or chest may change. Ranging from yellow to blue wings, white to pink chest, and white to blue head. This bird is truly exceptional in terms of color results. Be careful to ban some color crossings, such as a blue male with a blue female because this reproduction would then bring malformations to the chicks.
But this bird not only has beautiful plumage, but it also has the advantage of being a bird that is not noisy. It is sometimes even said that it is found quite silent. Only the male sings with a calm and melodious sound. The female emits only small calls, especially during the breeding season.
The Gould's Diamond is a very curious and lively bird, but it also happens to be quite calm. It is sociable, but often breeders do not mix them with other birds. However, this is still possible provided that you maintain them with small exotic birds quite calm, such as the Ruficauda Diamond or the Silverbill for example.
2. ITS HABITAT
As said before, it is possible to put our Goulds with another small estrildid in aviaries or cages. In some areas, they can be housed outdoors all year round provided that the aviary is protected from the weather. We speak of aviary when it begins to reach 1 m. For 2 to 3 couples, this space must be at least 1 m long, 1 m wide by 2 m high.
It will have to be equipped with several perches of different diameters, multiple feeders as well as drinkers and nests. We can add shrubs, some branches such as hazel, white mourn, beech, or some species of ferns. But despite some French regions being warmer than others, these birds remain very sensitive to moisture and drafts. In winter, these birds will need to be protected from the cold.
Our breeder friends will prefer to keep them indoors.
To be kept indoors, the Gould will need a cage that is longer than it is high because it likes to fly. As always, the larger the cage, the more it will revive our birds.
For a couple, a cage 60 cm long x 40 cm wide and 40 cm high would be the minimum.
This habitat should be equipped with a few perches of diameter 12 mm, a bathtub, 2 to 4 feeders, one to 2 drinkers, and a closed nest during the breeding season.
3. HIS DIET
The Gould's Diamond feeds with seeds for exotic birds that we find in pet stores. It is also strongly recommended to provide him with another food supplement throughout the year, especially during the molting and reproduction period. Indeed, the bird consumes much more energy in this period and weakens enormously.
Seeds that can be given as a supplement:
Millet in the red bunch, the Gould loves it, but to give with moderation. Red millet also stimulates reproduction.
The canary seed is one of the seeds that accounts for 50% of its diet.
Chenevis is quite popular, and also helps with reproduction.
Niger is to be given in winter, especially for birds living outdoors. Niger is provided with fat. It should therefore be given in moderation.
The cuttlefish bone must be present permanently, it provides a lot of calcium both for the animal and for the strength of the eggs. Birds also use it to clean their beaks. Egg pie or fortifier can be given at the time of molting or breeding. Some vegetables or fruits such as zucchini, endive, apple, or banana may be given occasionally. As well as some wild plants, such as white mouron, plantain, or dandelion (untreated). All these foods will need to be cleaned and rinsed with clean water before being given.
Fresh and clean water should be brought every day. Aniseed sand will have to be deposited at the bottom of the cage. Birds will be able to peck at it, giving them better digestion.
4. REPRODUCTION
- Breeding season: October to March
- Number of clutches per year: 2 to 3 maximum
- Number of eggs per clutch: 4 to 7 eggs (the last egg is always clearer)
- Brooding Duration: 15 days
- Weaning: 2 months
For the breeding period, it is better to prepare the couple for this stage. Some breeders separate pairs for a while to stimulate mating, but this is not an obligation.
The size of the cage must be well adapted and you must offer your couple a stimulating diet as well as a nest in the shape of a rectangular and closed vertical box. Bring some materials for the manufacture of the nest (coconut fiber, sisal, etc.) that you will find in pet stores.
Once the cage is equipped, the male will then wish to reproduce. He will show the female his desire by performing a parade that consists of hopping on the spot next to his female. When the female is ready to breed, this is distinguished by the blackening of her beak.
Egg-laying:
- Once the eggs are laid, the parents incubate in turn, except at night when only the female will incubate. During this period, avoid disturbing parents as much as possible.
- When the chicks are born, we see on the corner of their beak-like small shining diamonds of different colors, these diamonds have two meanings. On the one hand, it allows the parents to see the beak of the chicks to feed them more easily and on the other hand, they make it possible to determine the future colors that the young will have. Babies will keep these diamonds that will disappear little by little after two months.
- After two months the little ones can be separated from their parents without a problem. Before the chicks have their final color, they will go through what is called a juvenile molt.
- The feathers of babies will then give way to adult feathers.
Location
The Gould's Diamond is native to the northern regions of Australia, including Kimberley in northern Western Australia, where the largest numbers are found.
In its natural environment, the Gould's Diamond inhabits wooded savannahs near wetlands.
The species is highly valued as a domestic bird, both in its country of origin and in Europe and the United States.
History of the breed
The description of Gould's Diamond was made by John Gould, a British ornithologist, and naturalist who gave it its name, in 1844. He then took part in an ornithological expedition. About ten years earlier, the first specimens had been observed by French zoologists and naturalists Jacques Bernard Hombron and Honoré Jacquinot.
The species began to be imported to Europe 4 decades later, first to England and then to France. The flows continued until 1959 when Australia banned the export of its wild animals.
Today, the natural habitat of the Gould's Diamond in Australia is being damaged by disasters (forest fires), deforestation, poaching, and pollution.
Health
The most common diseases in Gould's Diamond are air sac moth infestation and baldness.
Air sac moths are microscopic mites that develop in the respiratory system of the bird, which then suffers from breathing difficulties.
Baldness mainly affects the back of the head and the top of the neck, but can also affect other areas of the body. It can be caused by dust mites, a genetic abnormality, or an inadequate diet.
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