feeding time for gouldian chicks

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 2:30 pm

I have a beautiful rh/wb/gb cock that does not have a mate yet. He is in the open aviary with all the other birds. He has taken over the feeding of my 5 chicks that should fledge this weekend possibly. Everytime I look he is the one in there. I think the parents are also feeding them, but not as much since he seems to have taken over. Their crops are always full and they sure aren't lacking for food.

Just wondering if this was normal for other gouldians to go in and feed the babies of other birds. (gouldians babies)

I was wondering when they fledge who will feed them.... him or the parents. There are five of them, so I was a little concerned that he could keep them all fed.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 2:54 pm

I think that although it may be uncommon - it's not unheard of. Most likely when the chicks fledge, all three adults may feed all the chicks. Lucky chicks to have 3 parrents!

Post by **Sally** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 3:10 pm

When I had the 5 LGs in one cage, and they were breeding, one nest had lots of eggs, at least 2 hens laying in there, and it was like a commune, with all the birds taking turns going in there. I would say that male has a future as a good parent!

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:25 pm

yes, I think he will make a great dad. He sings to the other two girls, but they already have boyfriends.

I plan on getting him a girl next weekend when I go to the bird mart.
Just haven't decided what color yet.....

Although....... if he wouldn't mind waiting perhaps one of those babies he is feeding is a hen.

It seems here lately all I am getting is cocks.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:44 pm

dfcauley wrote: It seems here lately all I am getting is cocks.

Out of my ~20 babies since last December... 2 have been males. The rest have been females! I'll swap you, I want more males here!!

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 6:23 am

wow Liz... too bad we don't live closer so we could swap.

When I go to the bird fairs alot of times they will not even sell a hen unless you buy a cock too. I think there are more cocks available than hens for some reason.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 9:31 am

dfcauley wrote:wow Liz... too bad we don't live closer so we could swap. When I go to the bird fairs alot of times they will not even sell a hen unless you buy a cock too. I think there are more cocks available than hens for some reason.

I wish we could swap - would be very interesting and FUN! Anyway there are lots of theories as to why some breeders get more of one gender than the other.

-diet
-temperature
-light source
-living conditions

I read one the other day that I think may apply to my birds... scientific studies were was done on foods available to the hen. To summarize: if the hen has no nutritional stress - she will lay more or all female eggs as females are more susceptable to nutritional stress than male chicks.

Here's a link to just one of many abstraacts / reports:
http://journals.royalsociety.org/conten ... 6btk39643/

I'm very tempted to remove some of the extra supplements I provide my birds during pre-breeding and breeding just as an experiment...

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 2:50 pm

Liz, if your brave enough to do that it would be very interesting to see what happens.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 3:24 pm

dfcauley wrote:Liz, if your brave enough to do that it would be very interesting to see what happens.

That's the only thing holding me back

I don't want to deprive my darlin's or risk their health in any way!