More Gouldians Tossing Babies

Post by **Sally** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 5:15 pm

I spoke too soon about my Gouldians being so good with their babies. There were four fledglings from the first nest, and once they left the nest, two of the hens started laying eggs. I knew there was a mess of babies that hatched out. Today, I came home to find four dead babies scattered all over the cage floor. When I checked the nest, there were two more dead ones inside, and four live babies. That makes for a total of 10 babies, and I have a feeling it was just too much for the one hen that was doing most of the sitting with these babies (I'm pretty sure this is her first breeding season, too).

I think this is a direct result of uncontrolled breeding--3 hens, 2 males, 3 nests, all in one flight cage, not an aviary. These hens would probably have been much better off a pair to a cage. I had noticed that the four fledglings were doing a lot of peeking in the nest, so maybe the hen felt threatened, or maybe she just didn't feel like she could take care of 10 babies. I know some people do communal breeding with Gouldians, but I think that is in an aviary setting, not a flight cage. As soon as the babies from one nest have fledged, I will pull that nest, and do the same with the first nest once those babies have fledged.

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 5:01 am

Aww Sally thats a bummer, I do agree though Although I allow all my Goulds to live together in large flight cages OFF SEASON coming breeding time thay are all paire dup and set to seperate cages ,
My birds this way choos ethere own mates then I seperate them off.

I know many local breeders because of space keep MANY goulds in large breeding cages and do well BUT they also NEVER truly know who i srelated to who,

And I am a stickler for knowing this otherwise you cannot improve a line.

ok Im RAMBLING> lol Im sorry about your babies its never easy...

Post by **Sally** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 6:58 pm

Today I found another dead LG baby on the floor. There are still 3 alive in the nest. They have food in their crops, but not stuffed. I decided to pull the nest and put those 3 survivors in the Society nest (more mouths to feed!). The other nest had 2 which fledged today, so I'm pulling all the nests from that cage. I don't know exactly what's going on, since they were so good at first, but they didn't have nearly so many babies to take care of--10 is pretty overwhelming! The 11th egg in the nest was infertile. Right now, there are 5 adults and 6 fledglings in that flight cage, so it is a bit crowded anyway. As soon as the babies are weaned, I will move them to a nearby cage.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 7:10 pm

I'm so sorry to hear about the other tossed Gouldy babies. Best wishes for the remaining - they'll be fine with the Soc's. And the parents will be great next time round.

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 8:00 pm

OH MAN IM SORRY. YOUR SOCIETIES ARE DEFINATELY EARNING THERE KEEP..