waiting between breeding?

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 6:45 pm

Want to know if anyone here has a pair of goulds that have gone into breeding and than remove the nest after the clutch only to return the nest back after 1 month for a second clutch.

Does this break the cycle of egg laying and chick rearing? Will the hen just lay eggs on the cage bottom??

Chris

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 6:59 pm

One pair of my Gouldians were breeding and have a clutch of 4 weaning. I removed the nest the day the chicks fledged. About 4 days later I found 2 eggs on the floor of the cage. I tossed them as one was broken and the other had an airbubble that moved all over the place inside the egg. I replaced the nestbox and she did not lay any more until another 4 days. Now 6 days after, she has 2 eggs in the nestbox.

Does that help?

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 7:05 pm

Also - I have not removed the chicks yet as they only fledged 2 weeks ago. They have at least 1 more week to go although I have seen them eating on their own. I have not noticed them drinking yet - I don't move any chick before I see it both eating AND drinking on it's own and then I still give it a couple more days with the parents (for insurance).

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 7:08 pm

would be interesting to know if you didn't replace the nest box till 1 month later will they go to nest just as fast?

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 7:14 pm

I think it would depend if she laid ALL her eggs on the cage floor... I wouldn't want her to do that - waste of energy on her part.

She did go into the nestbox almost before I could let go of it. Well before it was hanging there for 1 minute.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 7:16 pm

PS - why are you asking? You've got my curious.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 10:12 pm

If you leave the nestbox out for too long, they could come out of breeding condition or start their molt.

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 11:45 pm

atarasi wrote:If you leave the nestbox out for too long, they could come out of breeding condition or start their molt.

What is too long atarasi? 1, 2, 3, ... weeks?

Chris

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 11:51 pm

L in Ontario wrote:PS - why are you asking? You've got my curious.

Hey Liz,

Just put 2 and 2 together and notice your website link. Your the lady in Barrie I met up with this past weekend for the Gouldian. How are you doing? BTW the gould is doing great.

Reason why I'm asking is that I have an gould that just nested and when she is finished with the nest I'll be going on holidays so I want to pull the nest but fear that she would break her breeding cycle when I reintroduce the nest box when I get back from holidays.

Chris

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:35 am

chrischris wrote:Hey Liz,

Just put 2 and 2 together and notice your website link. Your the lady in Barrie I met up with this past weekend for the Gouldian. How are you doing? BTW the gould is doing great.

Reason why I'm asking is that I have an gould that just nested and when she is finished with the nest I'll be going on holidays so I want to pull the nest but fear that she would break her breeding cycle when I reintroduce the nest box when I get back from holidays.

Chris

Hey Chris!! I wondered (slightly) if ChrisChris on this forum is the same gentleman who came for the blue Gouldian - but since there's over 6 million in the GTA, I figured I wouldn't even ask. WOW - it's great to realize you are him!

And I'm very happy to hear the blue Gould is settling in well for you!

I would say if the nest is not put back within 1 - 2 weeks maximum that she would probably go in to her seasonal moulting. But that's just my estimate. Could whoever is looking after your birds while you're away - put the nestbox on in your absence? I think that may be your best bet if you want her to breed again fairly soon rather than wait til she moults and comes back into breeding.

Take care, Chris

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 11:20 am

Yep that is what I thought also. 2 weeks would probably be the longest as all my goulds go thru a molt when the nest is pulled for the season.

Chris