On video, my gouldian dad tosses his chick. Disturbing

[Babs _Owner]

This is my new pair (my hen......and a former laid back yellowback male I bought from a breeder...named Butternut).

Tonight I got off work, found a chick in the substrate. She's safe in my brooder (she's a YB so I know she's female). I opened the nest flap and saw another was almost hatched.

Chick was not quite hatched and needed to know who was the tosser. So I shoved my phone in the bars and put the video on.

Even the phone being in the cage bars didn't deter this male. He was hell-bent on making sure my hen didnt have ANY living babies in that nest. (I have removed the male)

Watch Dad's behavior before and after the "act". He is obviously agitated. Mom is protective in the beginning, he bullies her out @ 8:04 and makes quite a intimidating display radically going back and forth before after he tossed the chick while she just wants to protect her kids. @ 8:11 you see dad pulling the chick out. But the BEFORE and AFTER behavior is worth watching. Dad is acting like Tarzan , beating the wall of the cage even after he knows there are no more chicks til the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVzJ4RMnaqY

[Babs _Owner]

debbie276

Debbie, watch this video. What is wrong with this male??? I've never experienced this....they were seemingly bonded. I'm so sad. Dad has been PULLED!

Mom has 3 more due to hatch tomorrow. I will return the first chick I have in the brooder to her when they hatch, so she blends in and mom will feed her.

My birdroom has never seen this kind of violence. What does he WANT based on his behavior? I've never seen this.

[kyle]

Babs
Hi Babs, I'm not sure if I'm the only one but I couldn't get the video to play.

[Babs _Owner]

kyle

Ill post the link again. See if this works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVzJ4RMnaqY

[ac12]

Tossing has always been a puzzle.
- First off, as your video shows, the chick is not "tossed," but carried out of the nest. So a deep nest or a nest with a hallway will not stop a tosser from carrying out the hatchling.
- What is it that triggers them to toss?
- - In your case, something has clearly agitated the M. But what?
- Why does their tossing behavior change?
- Which one is tossing? I caught both M and F tossing. So the comment that the M is the one tossing, is false. The M may toss more than the F, but both will toss.

BTW, has this M ever bred for you?
Devils advocate position; it could be that the breeder wanted to get rid of him, because of his mating behavior. In a way similar to a breeder getting rid of a bird that does not breed.

[debbie276]

I agree with Gary, hard to tell why they toss.
Glad you've removed him. Good idea adding the chick back when the others hatch.
Best of luck

[Babs _Owner]

ac12 debbie276

Gary and Debbie, it's a puzzle for sure. I watched that video probably 3-4 times last night.

Normally this male is super calm to the point that it was hard to get a female that was drawn to him. Zero assertiveness from him. But oh man was he mad here.

After I returned that chick to the nest...the hen sat on it, and didnt toss. So, its not the female for sure..she's pretty upset in the video by the whole thing.

. Yep Gary, this is his first breeding. I went through 3-4 females before I could find one that liked him enough to mate.

I'm leaning more towards the male wanting to go back the nest?

I had the YB shipped up from Florida last year and paid a pretty penny for him. Seller does a lot of business, so there is no way to tell if he was trying to get rid of him.

Debbie, the first chick he tossed (that I put in the brooder) will indeed
go back in the nest as soon as her others hatch. Chick should blend right in at that point with the rest of the group. ;)

Weird and frustrating. First time I will have a female that has to take care of the kids alone.

[lovezebs]

Babs

I wouldn't write him off yet, Sweetie.

When did the first chick hatch?

I think some birds get freaked out, when the eggs in their first clutch begin to hatch, not being able to understand what's happening in their nests.

That's why I like to leave the youngsters in the flight with their parents whenever possible, through the next clutch, to see the natural process of eggs being laid, hatching, and the infants being fed, even helping to feed their younger siblings.

I think these experiences remain with them for life, prepairing them to become good parents in the future.

Just my two cents worth .

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

She had another hatch this morning alongside the tossed I put back in. She is not tossing at all.

I put the baby in the brooder back in with the other two so mom can have her chick.

Elana, she tossed one...I found it (put in brooder)....looked in nest afterwards and saw a chick almost hatched.....I set up the camera....caught him tossing #2

I pulled dad and put the tossed chick back in mom got back to business.

So now shes sitting on all 3.

I dont know what to do with him. Return him when the kids are bigger?? Im baffled.

He's normally a sweet boy. I dont want to give up on him.

[lovezebs]

Babs

Personally I would keep him in the loop, where he can watch and hear his chicks being fed by Mom.

When chicks are too big to be tossed, I would try to return him (when you have time to keep a close eye on the situation) and see how he reacts. If he begins getting agitated, pull him out.

Some tossers smarten up for their next clutch, some don't, so personally I'd play it by ear.

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

That is an excellent idea! Wooot. Ill set his cage up where he can see and hear the process.
And I am sure that will help keep their bond as well.

I can divide the cage and put him on the other side. Although that will give them both half of the 30 inches. Hmmm. Seems cramped. I'll figure something out as I work today.

Thanks honey!

[lovezebs]

Babs

I think it's worth while trying, before you start peeling veggies for soup... .

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

Oh boy the thought crossed my mind after I reviewed the video. Man..

[lovezebs]

Babs

I mean if he is a psycho, you can always retire him to a pet only home, or to the soup pot, but I'd give him another chance.

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

Hes a sneaky-psycho. I watched on the video.....he sat quiet (looking so innocent ) and patiently waited until he knew I was gone.

Then he went ballistic.