Dead babies

scully0427 · Post by **scully0427** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 12:20 am

Hi-my gouldians just had babies yesterday and I checked this evening and 3 of 4 are dead. I am wondering if I should remove them now or wait? Thanks for your help.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 12:42 am

Do you have societies to foster them out to? I would remove them either way.

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:50 am

I don't like your chances leaving the last one there.I would do the same. I don't have societies but have on occasions fostered to what ever else had young.A Lot of the time it hasn't worked but sometimes it does.
If that cant be done then i would hope for the best.
Some here hand raise so that could also be an option.I have never tried that myself.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 8:38 am

I have a pair of Gouldians that kept tossing babies. Finally I gave up and took the last live baby out of the nest and gave it to my Societies. It's doing okay (a little slower developing than I would have liked but that may be due to it being an 'only child') and should fledge next week.

I would definitely remove the remaining live babies... before it's too late.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 9:09 am

That is too bad about the babies....I hope your last little one makes it...good luck.

scully0427 · Post by **scully0427** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 12:27 pm

Thanks so much for all your replies. Unfortunately-the last one died overnight.

I think the parents didn't feed them. They supposedly were proven--but I'm not sure if they knew what they were doing. Anyways-I removed the nest this am to give them a break. Thanks again for all your help. Shellie

bonnies_gouldians · Post by **bonnies_gouldians** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:32 pm

Sorry to hear about your loss. Gouldians can make great parents if given the time to learn. Proven could have just meant that they laid fertile clutches that hatched, the breeder may have given the babies to the societies to care for instead of allowing the parents to do it. Give it another shot after you let them rest, they will learn.

canucky2 · Post by **canucky2** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:36 am

Ok, this pair has started another clutch. Is there anyway to help them? Are they going to feed them this time? I think Shellies babies didn't have the glow things on the sides of their faces... has anyone seen that before? Is that a deficency in something? Maybe she should prepare her societies to help out if the need arises this time. When would you put fake eggs under them? The whole time or just a week before they are due?

bonnies_gouldians · Post by **bonnies_gouldians** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 1:49 pm

I would go ahead and get the socities going now. It wont hurt for them to have fake eggs for a couple of weeks just in case. From what a lot of people have said on this forum, it takes practice for gould's to get it right, sometimes a few clutchs/seasons have to be sacrficed in the name of knowledge. I have never heard of them not having the glowey things so I dont know what to say about that.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:57 pm

Are the gouldians in a cage alone? Is it possible these were not gouldian babies? I have never heard of them not having mouth markings.

BirdCrazy · Post by **BirdCrazy** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 3:49 pm

dfcauley wrote:Are the gouldians in a cage alone? Is it possible these were not gouldian babies? I have never heard of them not having mouth markings.

That was my thought too Donna, that these were not Gould babies. That could be why the parents didn't feed either since they didn't have the right mouth markings.

canucky2 · Post by **canucky2** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 6:40 pm

They were gouldian babies as they are the only birds in the cage. Maybe third times a charm with them. I will lend Shellie some fake eggs for her societies.

canucky2 · Post by **canucky2** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:50 pm

unfortunately the societies do not seem interested in the eggs. Hopefully the parents do well this time. They are sitting on 6 eggs.