Should I foster the eggs?

[FLDoc]

I have posted before about a new pair of Gouldian parents, a yellow head male and RH female, that I had in a flight with other Gouldians. They eventually tossed their young. The yellow head and a RH male were flip flopping in the nest. I was suggested to remove the pair, which I did. They took well to their new digs and, after a month or so, went to nest again. However, they, again, threw out their chicks. I caught the first in time and put it in with Societies. It's just out of the nest with its nest mates. I left the other eggs, but two more chicks were tossed after they hatched. I took the last two eggs and put them with Societies, but they didn't hatch (I did candle them, and they were iffy).

Now it looks like the pair may be nesting again. Should I leave eggs with them or immediately foster them? I have some Zebras starting to lay. After this nesting, going to give them a break for the summer unless they try to nest elsewhere ( in their supplement cup, etc.). They may just be young, but don't want to keep losing chicks. Thanks.

Stu

PS... Having a dickens of a time trying to tell the Gouldian chick from two of the Society chicks.... All the other Societies (3 nests fledging at the same time with 4 - 5 chicks each). The father is split for several things, so waiting for whatever colors it will be to start showing up on its nearly naked head and back. We've named him ( or her ) Epic. It will be our first Gouldian raised...... A KEEPER!

[finchman]

I would foster for the rest of this breeding season (1-2 more clutches) and give them another shot next year.

[debbie276]

Gouldian chicks have 3 florescent nodules on each side of their beak, very easy to tell them from others.
Is there something that is disturbing them from the nest? If they shoot out of the nest quickly from being startled they could easily drag the chick out with them. Unless you are sure they are abandoning and not feeding their chicks I would let them raise their own. If the chicks fall out of the nest you can just put it back.

[FLDoc]

debbie276,
Debbie, that was helpful when everyone was in the nest feeding and bald. However, now it doesn't. Most have one spot by the corners of their beaks/mouths. One has nothing and may be the Gouldian. Everyone is feathering up. Now, when they are begging and I come to look, everyone shuts up. In the nest, they wanted to be fed and guess they thought I was just as good as anyone else to give them a meal.

As for the disturbing from their nest, where they are now it's even more secluded than in the flight. I think Finchman may have it right as this is their third clutch with the same behavior. Will foster these eggs and then let them rest. Hoping that they will mature into keeping the clutch and raising them.

Another thing that I remember from another thread.... I know that the hen was Gouldian raised, but not sure about the male. Someone once said one someone else's question that bad parenting may come from fostered Gouldians. Has anyone run into this type of situation before?

[FLDoc]

Also, someone said that Gouldians are slower to mature in the nest than Societies. The one that I think could be the Gouldian has less feathers developed. Its head top is dark, so wondering, if it is going to be a Black Head.

[debbie276]

Gouldians retain their nodules even after feathering up. About the time they are weaned there will be 2 instead of 3 on each side. Then they slowly disappear. The nodules are clearly visable even when they are not begging.
Gouldians don't take longer to develop and shouldn't be behind in feather growth though they do take longer to wean then society. That is why sometimes you run into problems fostering with society, they want to stop feeding the chick before the chick is ready to wean.
If you can post a pic I'm sure we will be able to pick out the gouldian.

[debbie276]

Here's a picture of one of my chicks at fledgling age. Notice the 3 nodules, around weaning age there will be only 2.

[FLDoc]

Thank you SO much Debbie. Now I can make out which one is Epic. His/Her facial feathers are white, so they are not as easily seen. Will post a pic soon. Getting up at 4:45am, leaving the house at 7:00 am and getting home at 7:30 p hasn't allowed me much time recently. And some are now on the perches, so less in the baby pile in the food bowl. Thanks also for straightening out the maturation vs feeding issue. Hopefully, as some of the Society babies are a little younger than Epic, he/she will be fed longer.

[FLDoc]

Well, shoot. I found a dead baby in the nest where Epic was and I think it's Epic. It's pretty old, but all the babies are feathering up fast and all are Societies. Maybe better luck if I foster eggs with the Zebras.