Gouldian breeding woes

[Caprice Acres]

I'm new to goulds, but have raised zebras in the distant past.

I have heard that Goulds can be 'interesting' to breed. They certainly are so far, lol

I have had my goulds just a few months. My pair are supposed to be young but mature birds.

I've posted in the 'welcome' forum with difficulties in getting my birds to eat a varied diet and they completely dislike egg food, fresh fruits. They'll sometimes show some interest in fresh greens and veggies but it's spotty at best. They will eat dried greens and their seed mix, but that's about it.

I put in a finch nest in a few weeks after I got them. Nesting material was available on top of the cage. A couple weeks ago I noticed they were actually going into the nest after ignoring it prior. They had a single tiny tuft of coconut fiber tucked into the nest, not even enough to cover the bottom. They've done zero nesting since despite having coconut fiber and some cottonseed fiber available.

Several days ago I pulled the cage out from against the wall to check the nest, but no change - no more nesting. Figured it was slow going on their end which was fine with me. The past few days I've seen the male displaying and singing to his best lady. Today I noticed there's almost always one bird in the nest, spending time apart and I thought that odd. Sure enough, I can spy two eggs in there. Still only a tiny sad tuft of coconut fiber under them. They're practically just sitting in the empty nest.

How should I proceed? I can pull out the nest and fabricate a man made nest for them, or I can leave it all alone. As I said, nesting material is present (in a hanger on the back of the cage) but I could add it in more places I suppose. I'm not sure I really want them building a nest on top of eggs (my zebras used to do that), but I'm not sure they will at all at this point.

Well, it's off to try a new egg food recipe to see if I can muster up some interest. Seems like they could use the supplementation but I haven't been able to convince them. ;)

[lovezebs]

Caprice Acres

Hi,

Sorry your Gouldies are causing woes and troubles ...

Personally, I have found Gouldians very easy to breed, easier than most other species, when offered the right diet and conditions.

However, Gouldians, are not Zebras, lol.

In the wild, Gouldians enjoy nesting in hollow trees and such.
In captivity, they tend to enjoy enclosed wooden nest boxes, either store bought , or home made. They mate in the privacy of the nest box.
They are generally poor nest builders (with some few exceptions).

And so, offering them a bamboo finch nest, is not ideal.
When you offer nesting material, they usually look at it, and go

Now that they have eggs in this nest, changing it to a nest box, may or may not work, as they will probably abandon the eggs.

What you can do, is rip up some kleenex into strips and pieces, and gently poke it into the nest and around the eggs, when your pair is out of the nest to eat or bathe etc.

More than likely your female will arrange it a little bit, then plant her bum down , thinking...ahhh much better.

Just make sure you do not cover the eggs!

[Caprice Acres]

I'd much rather have used a box instead of the woven nest I have, I agree. I went with what I could get locally. Many of the online shops seem to have pricy shipping if they have the good selection. In the world of finch breeding, I'm underwhelmed with the supplies available locally. ;)

To do anything, I'm going to have to take the nest out totally. My cage does not have a fancy side door for a nest box, so it's IN their cage. Thinking I might give it a go at night if they're both out of the box and I can quick like take it out, and keep it dark so they can't tell it's gone.

[lovezebs]

Caprice Acres

You can make a nest box, out of a sturdy cardboard box I mean you cannot use what you do not have, right?

I fortified the bottom with tape....attached with twist ties, and wedged a perch underneath to keep it stable, and voila a nest box .

Let's see if I can find a picture somewhere....
These are not the best pictures, and these are Strawberry youngsters, not Gouldians, but same basic idea...

[Caprice Acres]

Little cardboard nest box is a good idea. Wonder if I have a box to use next time - maybe even modify my cage so that its an outside box.

Last night I built them a nest with more coconut fiber and the cottonseed fiber I had. They were very sad when I took the nest and cautious when I returned it - but they took right to it. I feel better and I hope they like it. There was more coconut fiber than I thought, but you could still easily see the bottom of the woven nest through it.

My little apartment is pretty quiet nowadays as they're busily starting a family and not singing as much or moving around.

[lovezebs]

Caprice Acres

Wishing you bunches of good luck with your wee birdies
Now the waiting begins.

Keep an eye open for when the parents start sitting around the clock (sitting tight), and count your days, lol.

[Caprice Acres]

There is always one bird in the nest at all times. Still only 2 eggs in there.

[lovezebs]

Caprice Acres

It might be a small clutch, or possibly a trial run.
If they're sitting tight, then start counting your days

[Caprice Acres]

How exciting! I am too pleased with these birdies.

[ac12]

I used this site to start making a nest out of a milk carton.
http://www.efinch.com/milknest1.htm
I found that a single half gallon milk carton was too small for gouldians, so I made 2 different ones

- using 2 milk cartons cut an taped together, to make the nest longer

- using 2 milk cartons cut and taped together to make the nest both longer and wider.

My gouldian nest is made with 2 milk cartons, and also features a hallway, to give the nesting area more privacy.

You have to play with the milk cartons to get to a dimension that you like.

Tip: Line the outside of the milk carton with aluminum foil, so that sunlight won't go through the cardboard. This makes the inside of the nest DARKER.

I use coconut fiber or sisal to make a nest inside the nest box.
You have to pay attention to the corners, so that the eggs won't accidentally go under the nesting material. I have started to make the nesting area round/oblong, to eliminate the troublesome corners.

[Caprice Acres]

I never thought of a milk carton! I don't buy milk often (we raise dairy goats) but lots of my friends do.

There is now 4 eggs. Still not eating egg food but she's eating the calcium grit like crazy. She's not chewing on either of her cuttlebones though. Picky birds.

[Barbara]

Caprice Acres you can also use a small oatmeal box,you can get them at the dollar store,it's round it's kinda like a long hollow tree and that's what they would use in the wild.cut two holes in the back and hang with a bread tie cut the plastic cover in half and put back on I would put a bunch of nesting in there and then some out.I only bred mine once but they really could care less about making a nest they actually threw a lot of what I put in out but they were very good parents to four adorable,healthy babies.Good luck with yours

[Caprice Acres]

Caprice Acres you can also use a small oatmeal box,you can get them at the dollar store,it's round it's kinda like a long hollow tree and that's what they would use in the wild.cut two holes in the back and hang with a bread tie cut the plastic cover in half and put back on I would put a bunch of nesting in there and then some out.I only bred mine once but they really could care less about making a nest they actually threw a lot of what I put in out but they were very good parents to four adorable,healthy babies.Good luck with yours

So like a top entry nest? And by box, do you mean a can of oatmeal?