Cordon Bleu Blah

debbyloo · Post by **debbyloo** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:36 pm

Well, after anxiously awaiting the hatching of my cordon bleu's eggs, and seeing an empty egg shell half on the cage floor (clue that someone hatched), I ampted up the mealworms and egg food and waited for feeding behavior. Two days went by with the hen continuing to stay in the nest most of the time (figured they were absorbing the remaining yolk during that time). Then on the third day, she was out and would not go back in. She did not return at night either. She and the male would both peer in but not enter. I figured something was wrong. I pulled the nest and looked the next morning and inside were four newly hatched fuzzy babies - all dead as a doornail. Looks like she never feed them the first thing (and I never observed any feeding behavior that I could detect, from her or the male). So, I emptied out the nest, hung it in a new spot, and am going to see if she will start over. I think this time I will get with a friend and try to foster any eggs under a pair of her societies. Clearly this pair is not getting it! So disappointing. I would have liked to have monitored the nest better, but they are so so secretive that you can't even pretend you know the nest is there, practically, without them abandoning it. So, any suggestiongs?

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:37 pm

Sorry about the lost chicks Debby.

I can't recall if you said before, but was this their first attempt? They may need to have a practice run before they get it right.

CB's are so darn frustrating. They put forth all that effort... laying, incubating, hatch out beautiful healthy chicks, then let them starve! It's heartbreaking.

It seems to me people have more trouble breeding them than Lady Goulds.

Post by **Hilary** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:08 pm

Oh heck, from things I've read and people I've talked to they're SO much harder to breed than goulds! (I have about 30 gould chicks and juvies and no waxbills to prove it.) I got my last cock from a friend who has successfully raised cbs by watching for when her pair abandons the nest (at 10 days), putting the eggs under societies for hatching, then hand feeding them for the first couple of days until the societies kick it into gear. I'm so sorry to hear about the lost chicks - sounds like you were all prepared with the mealies. You may just have to foster next time, which it sounds like you're exploring. Good luck!

Hilary

bluefinch · Post by **bluefinch** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:17 pm

I have also heard quite a bit about them being difficult to breed. One breeder I talked to who had quite a bit of success with them said she keeps a dish of mealworms in there pen 24/7 when they are nesting. I would like to try raising these birds as well and am interested in hearing others experience with them.

debbyloo · Post by **debbyloo** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 9:46 am

This past failed nesting was their third failed attempt. The first time she fled the nest after incubating only a couple of days, as I remember, and it was probably because I stood on a chair and tried to look into the nest very quickly and quietly from a chair, from outside the cage. The second time I totally ignored the nest and she did well up till 2 days until hatching when an owl hen laid an egg in her nest (dumping eggs). She abandoned the attempt. This time I have the pair in with only a pair of strawberries (who are now trying to nest as well in another corner of the cage - up to 3 eggs today), very docile and non-threatening birds - never bother anyone. Anyway, she successfully incubated but then just never fed and neither did the male. I have no idea why. I have had minimeal worms and egg food in the cage (along with a whole buffet of everything under the sun) 24/7. Her pattern is to devour mini mealworms during egg laying. Then won't touch them while incubating. However, they are still offered constantly and replinished with fresh lively ones. I do not understand why neither would feed. I even offered live fly larvae. I am seriously considering passing any eggs on this time to my friend who raises gouldians successfully and is an expert on fostering under societies. I am wanting to raise these cordons for her anyway so she can have some of these beautiful birds too. Thanks for the advice and thoughts. It is just very frustrating - if you try to check on the nest - they abandon it. I tried to just watch for signs, and I knew at least one egg had hatched because I found the empty pipped shell half. But I also figured the chicks would not begin being fed for about 2 days. And, since it is a covered finch basket, I could not really see if the hen might indeed be feeding them when she went in (she pretty much disappeared at that point and you couldn't what she was doing). I listened but heard no sounds (not unsual in the beginning though). When she came off the nest and I was sure, I pulled the nest but it was too late. I am not experienced at this, but I am trying to learn. Just hate to lose the little guys.