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Goulds starting again

Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 1:03 am
by canucky2
My pair of goulds last clutch died in shell when the hen abandoned the nest. I took all the other birds out of the flight they are in, bumped up the supplements with kelp, idodine, better egg food, probiotics and spirulina. I was going to add apple cider vinegar but haven't yet.

Today I notice that they have three eggs. I am not bothering them this time, and i will see how it goes. Since my society hen just died, there with be no fostering, if needed.

I am not as stressed this time, maybe because I have low expectations. I do now have another pair of goulds and they are playing around there nest too. UMMM maybe will have two clutches.

Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 6:23 am
by mickp
hope you have better luck this time around :)

Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:44 am
by L in Ontario
It does get exciting, doesn't it. I have a few pairs of LG's set up since the beginning of August but no action here yet.

Good luck with yours!!

Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:04 am
by hfentj
I have a pair of Society with their first clutch of babies, and now that we have little ones making noise everyone else seems to be working on families. Up until now there hasn't been this much intrest. I'm hoping my Owls are just as interested, I have heard the male in the nest singing so I'm hoping there might be an egg or more.

Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:07 am
by B CAMP
canucky2
Good luck maybe this time they will know what to do :)

Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:51 am
by jamezyboo21
My goulds are finally breeding. I had one pair and decided to get a few more so now i have 3 pairs and my 1st male decided to mate with the new female and now he built a nest and they both have been going in the nest and he chases everyone else away. not going to check the nest because this is there first time and i dont want to stress them. My societies have laid eggs now as well and are incubating. my stars have been checking out nesting material and the male is constantly singing to the female.

Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:59 am
by canucky2
life in their cage seems to be going well. sitting tight so far. I am not even bothering them to candle the eggs.

Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:19 am
by B CAMP
Think positive :)

Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:27 pm
by canucky2
argh! My curiousity got the best of me today. I have been so good. Mama Hen has been sitting tight since the 18, so I thought I would sneak a peek at the eggs. I put the candlering in the nest and looked at the eggs. ALL clear, no veins or anything.

What would cause them to have infertile eggs? I have been feeding them sooooo well or so I though. Fresh egg food, kelp, pro-biotics, spirulina, fresh veggie and fruit. Idoine and vits in the water. WHAT am I doing wrong?

Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:42 pm
by poohbear
Nothing....I've had a shocking year for infertile eggs and so have many other UK breeders.We've blamed the weather and everything else including Bush :wink: It's just one of those things.If one of your pair is infertile there is little you can do unless you have sufficient pairs to swap partners.Young birds are prone to clear eggs, next year might be different.

Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:41 pm
by atarasi
poohbear wrote:Nothing....I've had a shocking year for infertile eggs and so have many other UK breeders.We've blamed the weather and everything else including Bush :wink: It's just one of those things.If one of your pair is infertile there is little you can do unless you have sufficient pairs to swap partners.Young birds are prone to clear eggs, next year might be different.
Sometimes they take a few tries to copulate effectively, especially if they are inexperienced.

Paul, how common is a sterile gouldian? I know you breed more normals, but do you think a mutation has a higher chance of being sterile?

Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:02 pm
by canucky2
The female is a normal black head and the male is a black head white breast. I know the other clutch they had, had been fertile but died in shell.

I was going to say... I suck,... but I think I would rather blame Bush too. That sounds like the best plan.

Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:10 pm
by poohbear
I suggest you give them one more go and if no joy let the hen rest and try again in a few months.
Mutations blue to blue are notorious for being unsuccessful.I always pair a blue to a normal.

Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:10 pm
by atarasi
Just remove the eggs and in about a week the hen will start laying again.

Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 4:33 pm
by canucky2
really just remove them?! what if they are just delayed? It's hard to throw them away. I have been wanting babies... I've looked at them twice.... they are clear, no veins but are we really sure.....

yikes..... maybe thursday.