Gouldian eggs???

[slwatson]

Babs

Last night when it was lights off, they were all in their nests, both pairs of gouldians, and my owl pair. They all have eggs, but I didn't know if the owls did things the same way as the gouldians. I'm a little worried about my blue hen. Last night, she was on her perch, and her tail was moving up and down, like maybe she was trying to get another egg ready to pass. She's been at this now for a week! I'm just hoping she's not egg bound. I give them all plenty of calcium, but I don't know how much she's actually eating.

[Babs _Owner]

slwatson

I read around the thread that if she is eggbound, it will take her down very quickly about 24hrs I think.

If shes been twitching her tail for a week, is she maybe just acting agitated because you're near the nest.

My nesting female gets annoyed with me if I spend too much time doing food and water changes , so I try and make it quick (Look at me a grow woman getting bossed around by a tiny bird).

And when really she's upset she makes this tiny raspy "ehhh" rumble in her throat, that kinda sounds like a messy mouse fart, and it makes me get the giggles.

[slwatson]

Babs

She's fine now I think she was just getting ready to pass another egg, because she's in the nest all of the time now, and she's not doing it anymore.

Her hubby isn't the greatest about sitting with her, but he will go in and sit to give her a chance to eat.

[slwatson]

Update on my finch pairs:

I'm still patiently waiting to see if any eggs hatch from my gouldian pairs....I did take a peek at the nests this weekend. My blue and yellow pair are hanging in there. The hen is doing most of the sitting, but I'm a little worried that she's not able to sit on all of the eggs to keep them warm. Dad does a lot of sitting outside of the cage, singing to himself. My second gouldian pair are doing fantastic. I rarely see them as both of them sit on the eggs.

My owl pair...I don't know. I think I'll be lucky if any of their eggs hatch.

My red throated parrot finches...they have one egg in the nest, and I found two the hen had laid from a perch that cracked on the bottom of the cage I'm working on getting them a larger flight because I don't think they have enough space.

[debbie276]

How many eggs are the Blue and Pastel sitting on?
It is not unusual for the hen to do most of the sitting, matter of fact it is rare that they BOTH sit at the same time.

[slwatson]

debbie276

It almost looks like she's sitting and the eggs are around her. It's the strangest thing. The other pair look like they're actually sitting on the eggs, and the eggs are close together in the center of the nest. So I can't tell if she's getting her body on top of them or not, or if she's moving from one egg to the other.

[debbie276]

How many eggs are in each nest now?

[slwatson]

debbie276

Sorry...I didn't see this until now, and I'm not with my birds. I'm afraid the blue hen is abandoning her eggs. I didn't see her sit on them at all when I got home yesterday, and last night, she didn't go back in when I turned off the lights. I'll see if I can get a good luck tonight and let you know.

[slwatson]

Babs lovezebs debbie276

So last night, I sat and watched as my blue and yellow pair perched in their cage, oblivious of the eggs they had laid and were previously sitting on a couple of days ago. I opened the top of the plastic box, and there were four eggs, but one of the parents pulled all of the nesting material out of the box. I don't know which one it was, but I think that's why the hen will no longer sit on the eggs. So, since my other pair is doing such a fantastic job with their four eggs, I gave them the other pairs four eggs also. They immediately began sitting on all eight. I honestly don't think they'll hatch any of those four, because they hadn't been sat on for a couple of days, but I had to try something. Then I added more nesting material to the cage of the blue and yellow pair to see if maybe the blue hen wanted to lay another clutch later on.

I hope that was the right thing to do...I just couldn't sit and watch those eggs be left alone any longer. The blue hen was doing such a great job sitting...I don't know why she suddenly stopped.

[debbie276]

There are many reasons why birds will stop sitting. It could be that they feel the conditions aren't right to raise a clutch. Being disturb off the nest and/or not being experienced can also make them abandon the clutch.
You did what you thought was best, will be interesting to see if any hatch. They should go on to lay another clutch unless they were really disturbed enough to not continue.
good luck

[lovezebs]

slwatson

Hi Sandy

I think that was a great idea. This way these eggs will at least have a chance. I really hope that they hatch .

I would take the nest box of the couple who are not sitting, and place it way back in some upper corner of your flight, with fake plants around and above it for privacy. Sounds like this couple is a bit shy, so I would not do any nest checks with them at all. Just let them do their thing, and learn as they go along.

I am so excited for you with these babies on the way. When is the estimated time of arrival for the infants???

[slwatson]

debbie276 lovezebs

Thanks...I feel better. These are stackable breeding cages, so you're right, they could have been disturbed too much by the other birds above them, and the male is pretty young. I'll move them and the nest box and make it more private

I'm thinking estimated time of arrival is around Halloween

[lovezebs]

slwatson

Good luck. Halloween, will be a great birthday for your babies.

[Babs _Owner]

slwatson

Hopefully the hen that didnt sit well also didn't trigger the incubation yet! If the new hen hatches those eggs that will be a major victory! When the babies start hatching it will be an adventure seeing if any did indeed survive. Like opening mysterious presents!

[slwatson]

Babs

I'm so excited to see what happens...that second pair sat from the time I got home until I went to bed last night. I only saw the male come out to eat. I think maybe some of their own have hatched!