The health of the Gouldian finch is based on 3 major components:

• Genetics
• Environment
• Diet

A Closer Look

Let’s take a closer look at each of these. First, genetics. Obviously this means the quality of the genes of the bird in question. A bird whose history is known, including parents, grandparents and how long they live – that gives you a lot of insight into how strong or weak this bird is.
Whenever possible, purchase top quality birds from an owner who documents such things. It will save a lot of headache in the long run.

Environment means all the external details from the room, the cage, and the interior of the cage to the bird himself. We’ll include any possible parasites here that might be feeding off your little host. Yes it is true, Gouldians can harbor lice, mites, and other parasites, which can drag down their health and leave them with scruffy feathers and anemia.
Furthermore, a clean environment and extremely clean cage/bowls/perches go a long way in maintaining good health for your flock.

For more on parasites, please see Could my Gouldian Finch have Mites? or Treating your Finch for Parasites

Last, diet. People don’t want to admit that they ‘cheat’ on the Gouldian diet but hey – “You are what you eat.” It is all too evident in the bird’s appearance when owners are feeding seed only. Feathers don’t sit tight against the body or they have a frayed appearance, eyes aren’t as bright, and the birds overall don’t have that zest for life that fresh-fed birds do.

For more on diet, visit Feeding your Bird or Feeding and Nutrition