Gouldians laid their first egg!

[Babs _Owner]

After a rather stressful evening, I decided once the bird's lights went out and I did their nightly food and water change I was going straight to bed.

I quietly checked Brigette's and Audun's nestbox (from the outside of the cage). A quick lift of the lid and there was 1 egg. My smile amost cracked my face! Rainbows EXPLODED out of my ears!

Both parents were still sitting outside on the branch in the very dim light. I never check the box in the daytime, as I dont want them to see me. I would suspect that there is another egg this morning, but I wont know until lights out tonight when I can check again.

She's not sitting tight yet, so keep your fingers crossed!! If she is sitting on the eggs tonight, I will not do a nest check at all (But I might slap myself silly resisting the urge). Ohhh it will all be soo mysterious

[lovezebs]

Babs

WOO-HOOOOO!!!
I'm going to be an Aunty, a Grand Aunty. .... or whatever!!!
I'm almost as excited as you are
Did you tell Bill? Did you call Bubba and the crew?? Is there a celebration party???

[Arama]

Babs

Congratulations! I know you have been anticipating this since you got the pair. I bet they will have beautiful chicks.

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

Yes Aunty Elana, looks like good news. Bubba wants to throw a BBQ now, but I had to tell him to wait til that gal sits on those babies! You know Bubba sulks if there's no BBQ

Bill is extremely excited!! He told me he had a surpise for me too, its supposed to be here next week. I am DYING to know what it is and he wont budge. Im like " PLeeeeeeeeeeeease! " and Bills like " NOPE you gotta wait.

Me and Bubba are gonna have to talk Maybe I can get him to spill the beans, if I threaten to kidnap his huntin' dogs.

@Arama

This is the scary part....what if she DOESNT sit tight? How many days do I wait for them to start sitting (I think its four)??

PS. I got a baby wipe brooder, and if I set it on HIGH it stays at 98-`100 degrees. Im hoping it will double as an incubator if needed.

If I set it at low it stays 93-94 degrees for a brooder. Humity here is always over 50% I hope Im setting this up right!

[debbie276]

Good luck!

[lovezebs]

Babs

NOOOOO!!! Not the hunting dogs!!! Woman, that's cruel and inhuman, almost as bad as taking a key to the 4x4 (scraaaatch ) It's just not done.....

The birdies will be fine Babsi. You worry too much girl .
Once your Bri is close to finishing her clutch, she will sit tight, and Audi, will help her, you'll see. They are going to be good parents.

As to the surprise..... I have no idea, but it sounds very exciting. Maybe a huuuuge aviary, maybe another pair of Gouldians, maybe a Blue......., maybe a new puppy...... maybe a Partridge in a pear tree (so Bubba can have a barbecue ).

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

Ahhhahahahah! I just read your reply to Bill, he's cracking up! He thinks your hysterical! He still wont tell me.

If he gets me a puppy, I will cry. One of my dogs just chewed up a $50 bed we bought for her. If he gets me some more gouldians Bubba is gonna invite his whole family! Oh lawdy thats a wild crew there!

[Madcat]

Yyyaaaayyyyyy!!!!!

[lovezebs]

Babs

Holy crow!!! You'll have to cook up all your Butter Nut Squashes (Squishes? Squashoes? Squ..... what the heck is plural for Squash?) Anyway if Bubba and the whole family come on down, you'll have to cook all of them up, especially if there are no Partridge, or pears......

So the doggie chewed up the new bed, eh? Sigh.... what can you do? You need some large bison bones for your kids by the sounds of it , and a bison robe, for pups to sleep on. I guess a bit of chewing wouldn't hurt that any.

[Babs _Owner]

"Holy crow!!! You'll have to cook up all your Butter Nut Squashes (Squishes? Squashoes? Squ..... what the heck is plural for Squash?) "

Its like this :

OH boy! We still got 1 more squash left!

Lookee here! I hauled in 20 squash today!

Squash is singular and plural you funny goofball!

[Babs _Owner]

Madcat debbie276

Now what do I do if she doesnt sit......cause shes not sitting yet. Trying to prepare for the worse.

I have a makeshift incubator. Its stable between 98-100 degrees. And already heated and set up if necessary.

How long do I let it go before I try and save the eggs if she doesnt sit?

[debbie276]

After about 4 eggs she should sit tight. How many do they have?
I would warn against incubating the eggs because IF they hatch you will need to handfeed and that is not easy. Your best bet is to let the parents do their thing. Sometimes it takes a time or two to get it right but it's so worth it to have parent raised birds.
Good luck

[Madcat]

I agree. My last clutch tossed eggs and chicks. This time they are feeding. My goal is to breed parent raised birds. It's heart breaking sometimes but I agree it's worth it for them to learn to care for their own.

[Babs _Owner]

debbie276 Madcat

Its lights out, I did their nightime changing. Shes at 2 eggs now. Shes still hitting the cuttlebone pretty hard. Tomorrow will make 3 more than likely.

If its normal for her to not have even the urge to sit until about 4 eggs, then Im just going to relax.

My societies sat tight the very first egg laid, so a hen showing no interest in sitting is odd to me. Getting used to it.

[Madcat]

No. My goulds didn't sit hard til the last egg was laid. 7 to 10 days.