What else can I do? 2nd chick died and eggs too.

kiwi & mango · Post by **kiwi & mango** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:07 pm

Hi
We have all 4 birds in one cage now. It is 28 inches long, 19 inches deep and 36 inches high. We have our newer pair that are about 7 & 8 months old. The cage that the breeding pair was in was the cage we started with about 24 inches long, 16 deep and about 24 inches high. It was the only cage they new until the male started tossing and I placed him in with the newer pair.
I noticed that he was hoping last night and her beak is soooo black again. I just don't want to let them down if I am needed but have a busy schedule.
How long will she stay in breeding condition? My schedule will be much easier on April 21st that is when my hours will be back to part time.

thanks again

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:30 pm

They usually stay in breeding mode till they start to molt which is when it starts to get warmer like April/May. Than they will not come back into breeding until the molt is over with.

I would personally just let them do their stuff you might be quite suprise and just pretend nothing was happening.

Chris

kiwi & mango · Post by **kiwi & mango** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 3:06 pm

Hi
when you say stuff are you meaning breeding again or just let them wait for a few months until they finish molting to breed again?

I need to order another nesting box as well...but I was told that the gouldians love the bamboo nest over the boughten plastic that can be cleaned and reused.

thanks

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:22 pm

Interesting thread...I am learning a lot here about breeding times!

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:26 pm

Hey K & M,

Stuff meand let them breed again provide them with a nest box and just let nature do it's work. They may be very good parents this time around. You might of figured that I'm not keen on fostering so I really discourage about fostering.

As for nest box I have used the plastic budgie breeding box with sucess. The only thing is the colour I think they like it dark. The one I used was black in colour. Now I use wood boxes just that they are cheaper and I like the sizes available. A matter of preference.

Chris
p.s. I have a pair that sits really tight on a nest of 5 eggs and today is the 14th day. Decided to check on them, unfortunately I had to scare the male off the nest, all 5 eggs were infertile. Oh well guess they'll try again. Pulled all the eggs and started giving the vitamines to get them eady for the next clutch. Wish me luck.

kiwi & mango wrote:Hi
when you say stuff are you meaning breeding again or just let them wait for a few months until they finish molting to breed again?

I need to order another nesting box as well...but I was told that the gouldians love the bamboo nest over the boughten plastic that can be cleaned and reused.

thanks

kiwi & mango · Post by **kiwi & mango** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:21 pm

I am so glad that others are learning as well as myself......

the world of breeding and the idea to foster or not is a REALLY big question for me. I want what is best for them and for any chicks they have. That is why it was so upsetting to see those little chicks not make it..

I was told the canary/budgie boxes were to big for the finches and they would not breed in them. Have you had gouldians that were not all that excepting at first? since I offered this pair the bamboo kind this past time should I be consitant with that?

I am sorry to hear about the eggs your pair were sitting on. Is it unusal to have ALL eggs infertile? I checked and my pair had one that was infertile and I knew by the colour of it that it was the second one I found in the dish on the floor of the cage.

hilljack13 · Post by **hilljack13** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:27 pm

kiwi & mango wrote:I was told the canary/budgie boxes were to big for the finches and they would not breed in them.

Do you remember where you heard this? This is far from true as any cavity nesting bird will nest in a larger than normal space.

kiwi & mango wrote: I am sorry to hear about the eggs your pair were sitting on. Is it unusal to have ALL eggs infertile? I checked and my pair had one that was infertile and I knew by the colour of it that it was the second one I found in the dish on the floor of the cage.

I have found that one of my pairs of zebras seem to have a fertility issue. They have started about 5 nests now, have 1 chick that lived out of all of those, one other that hatched and didn't make it. I'm not sure what the cause is but I would like a good senario answer why this keeps happening.

kiwi & mango · Post by **kiwi & mango** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:57 pm

I herd it from a gentleman that runs a pet store....and actually has breed finches of all sorts. He says the gouldians like the bamboo the best of it all. When i asked about the nesting boxes where you can check if needed and he says they are only good for us (the people) because we just can't wait to see if there are eggs or chicks.

It would have made it so much easier for myself when the male gould tossed the little gould, trying to get it back into the nest without hurting it was very difficult.

I was very glad to see that 3 out of the 4 eggs had chicks. Like I said the one that was laid at the bottom of the cage within the treat cup was the egg that was not fertile. So they are a good pair for fertileitly.

moe moe2 · Post by **moe moe2** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:59 pm

hilljack13 wrote:
kiwi & mango wrote:I was told the canary/budgie boxes were to big for the finches and they would not breed in them.
Do you remember where you heard this? This is far from true as any cavity nesting bird will nest in a larger than normal space.

kiwi & mango wrote: I am sorry to hear about the eggs your pair were sitting on. Is it unusal to have ALL eggs infertile? I checked and my pair had one that was infertile and I knew by the colour of it that it was the second one I found in the dish on the floor of the cage.
I have found that one of my pairs of zebras seem to have a fertility issue. They have started about 5 nests now, have 1 chick that lived out of all of those, one other that hatched and didn't make it. I'm not sure what the cause is but I would like a good senario answer why this keeps happening.

go and read the links in my breeding time thread maybe that could be the answer

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:52 pm

In my case the infertility issue is most likely that the hen is in experienced. It's a very young pair that I matched up and I'm sure the next time around things will work out better for them.

Chris