Baby gouldians - How do I know ......

[Sandra]

So yesterday I have posted that I have 5 baby gouldians. Since the parents are at the learning stage with first clutch of babies ..... And I need to learn to as I hear 1 baby chirping but I don't know why.

-How do I know babies are being fed?

-Do baby gouldians chirp only to be fed or can be another reason?

I haven't peaked inside the nest so I don't know if all 5 survived the night ... how will I know without peaking?

[wilkifam]

HOw old are the babies? If you can hear chirping, they are probably just calling to be fed. After 10 days or so, the parents don't spend as much time in the nest, but still feed.

[Sandra]

1 was born 2 days ago, and the other 4 were born yesterday ....

There is one who keeps on chirping. He doesn't stop. I really don't want them to die. I'd go get what I need to hand feed them myself.

[wilkifam]

Is at least one parent in the nest box?

[Sandra]

The 2 parents are inside the nest, right now. Earlier this morning, both parents took turns to get out and eat. But so far nest isn't being left alone. Just evening for about 5-10mins where for some reason both parents eat at the same time. But they return to nest and both even spend night in it.

[wilkifam]

I'll bet all is well. Chicks can live off egg sac for first 24 hours. If both parents are going in and out and eating, sounds like they are doing their job.

[lovezebs]

Sandra
~All should be well.
~If any didn't survive, there is nothing you could do about it. If parents are in and out feeding, then it's a good sign. If they are not feeding, then you would have to consider hand feeding, but with babies this young it is not recomanded and would probably not work anyway.
~I would leave things alone and let nature take care of things. I know it's hard to wait, but in the long run you will have a better success rate than if you poke around in there too much and lose all of them.
~Consider the fact that birds have been raising babies in the wild for a very long time without human interferance and have been managing very well.

Patience my dear.

~Elana~

[Sandra]

I breed them 2 times last year, and 2 times this year. This clutch is the successful one. The 2nd egg clutch, I only had 1 baby who died within 24 hours.

I know both parents go out to eat but I just don't know if its given to the babies as I hear at least 1 chirping still.

I am so tempted to look inside the nest. I have the 'forever nest' hanging on the outside of the cage. Had to cut a couple cage bars as I ddint want the nest to be on the inside of the cage. So its so easy for me to put the back of the nest tab to look inside. But I know it bothers them, So I try not too.

If 1 baby dies, will they throw it out of the nest? How will I know without looking?

Look at pic from last night, when both parents were out eating. I don't know if the 6th egg hatched. But one of the babies was born on oct 1st and the other 4 on oct 2nd. Funny how 3 of them look purple and 2 is more of a tan colour. Not sure what it means.

[MiaCarter]

Aw, they're cute!

Usually the skin color means a different complexion in terms of feathering.

They generally toss the baby if it dies, but not always.
If a dead baby dies in the first few days and gets left in the nest, he'll usually get flattened by the others and he'll dry up.
But the larger babies must be removed if they pass away, as they won't just dry up. The warmth and body heat can cause decomposition, which can be a bacteria breeding ground.
So I'd try to snap a photo just as you did here every couple days, just so you can account for everyone and act if necessary.

They beg pretty consistently for the first few days, even when they've been fed, so don't worry about that.

You should look for food in the crops; that's the only real confirmation of feeding.
The yellowish guy in the middle looks like he may have some in his crop. Hard to tell from this angle. They don't get big, obvious crops until they're a couple days older.

Make sure you feed lots of protein-rich foods. I provide eggs, which are nice and soft and easy to digest. They go nuts for the eggs while raising the babies. They also enjoy lots of bugs, like crushed up mealworms and bloodworms.

I also give cucumbers, kale and carrots (in moderation) as they're rich in vitamins and have lots of moisture. But you want the primary food source to be protein.

[MiaCarter]

I just noticed the yellowish babies have a yellow beak nodule, whereas the others have a white beak nodule.

So I'd say you likely have a couple yellows in there.

[Sandra]

They just tossed 2 babies out I took my youngest to the park and when I came back 2 babies out. Both were dead when I got them.

Now I don't hear the chirping anymore. Why did they throw 2 babies out for? Now I just have 3 left but I don't hear them

[lovezebs]

Sandra
Sorry about the two tossed ones.
Some parents will do that. As to the why of it, who knows. My Gouldian parents somehow drowned one baby, at which point my Societies took over and raised three babies who are almost ready to fledge. Just recently had to remove both parents and another young pair from the flight for attacking these same three babies, who are still in the nest. Got to them in time, thank God and babies are safe.
I hope the other three will do well for you.

~Elana~

[Sandra]

Awww they are soooo adorable!!! That is my only hope to have a couple babies. But seeing how the parents are .... still a long road ahead of them.

Another baby got tossed this morning. He was dead when I noticed. Not flat tho. I tried to warm it up see if it would move, but it never did.

Like really, why would 3 die? Doesn't make sense. I didn't even peak at the nest since Thursday night.