FINCHforum

Im getting a little concerned about my female Gouldian. This is the pair that abandoned their first clutch but have been sitting real tight on the second. Havent seen the female out to eat since yesterday. Got a little worried about her tonight..peeked in the nest. She wasnt moving. He jumped out of the nest but she didnt move. Thought she was dead...reached in and touched her. She looked up at me but wouldnt budge. Didnt want to disturb them anymore so left them alone. But I am concerned about her not coming out to eat or drink.

Is this normal? Is there anything I can do?

I don't know about gouldians, but my green singers, the male feeds the female while she sits on the eggs. She never leaves until about five days after the eggs hatch.

I have a society on 2 fertile eggs that she snuck in on me (I thought they were infertile) and I can't get her off the nest no matter what. She's glued like she's got suction cups on her feet. She isn't afraid of me so I can actually take my finger and scoot her over. That's how I found two fertile eggs mixed with the duds I put under her. She will not come out of the nest at least while I'm in the room. The rest of the family do feed her. So I'll bet your girl is sitting on a secret! I hope so anyway!!!!

When my gouldian hen sits, she'll come out once in a while to eat, drink and stretch.

Tonight when we checked in on her she wouldnt budge. She was spread out very wide and sitting kinda hunched over like there was something under her she didnt want to smush. Out peaked a little head. Didnt want to disturb her anymore so didnt check to see how many. Wooohoo! more chicks!

congrats!!

I have a Gouldian hen who is acting exactly as yours. She is constantly sitting and she is absolutely fearless of me when I attempt to peek. She does not budge for anything. When the male goes out for some exercise, or to eat/drink/boo-boo, she opens her mouth like a begging chick for the male to feed her. I've never actually seen him feeding her but I hear and have seen her beg. Congratulations on the new chick(s). Here's hoping they both feed.

Congratulations!
What a great mama

Today we caught both parents out of the nest eating. We did a nest check and there were 3 new chicks. All three were being fed nicely. My wife said where's the 4th egg?? It was gone. Looked on floor of the cage and there it was completely intact but with a small hole in it. Very sadly we removed it and decided to go ahead and look inside. The egg was cold and we pulled away 1/2 the shell and inside was a fully formed chick that should have been scheduled to hatch yesterday or today. Then it opened its mouth It was very weak and cold. Didnt know what to do so we dipped a sewing needle into a raw egg yolk and was able to get a little in its mouth. We took it and placed it back in the nest still with part of the shell stuck to it and tucked between two other chicks for warmth. Our male went into the nest and immediately came out. He seemed a little agitated. The female went in and came out with a little piece of egg shell in her mouth. Dont know if that was the part that was still stuck to the chick or not. She stayed in the nest for the next hour or so and then the male went in and sat while she ate again and returned to her chicks. For some reason he isnt sleeping in the nest tonight.

I dont see this chick making it and felt that the only chance of survival was placing it back in the nest as we are not prepared for hand raising. All I know is that it is back in the nest and not on the floor of the cage. However slight it may be at least it has a chance.I guess we'll know tomorrow morning.

Always sad when things like that happen.
WHY did they toss the egg

At least you found it while it was still alive.
So you gave it another chance.
Fingers crossed for you.

Congrats on the 3 healthy babes being fed
Sadly some of them just aren`t strong enough and the parents seem to have a sixth sense about these things Praying for the fourth little one

Congratulations on your new little chicks. It's not unusual that the male doesn't sleep in the nest at night so try not to be too concerned about that.
Keep us posted

Caught the female out for a few minutes today. We wanted to check on the hatchling we put back. No trace of it... no egg no chick in the nest or on the cage floor....hmmm

On the brightside the other three chicks are being taken well care of. Parents are doing a great job this time around.

debbie276 wrote:It's not unusual that the male doesn't sleep in the nest at night so try not to be too concerned about that.
Keep us posted

Neither one has slept in the nest for the last week. But during the day they have taken wonderful care of the three chicks. Maybe these two will make great parents after all.

Their other three chicks that are being raised by the Societies fledged today. Unlike the other cages that have nestboxes on the outside the society cage has a wicker nest hanging inside. When we came home tonight the son hollered "Dad one of the chicks are dead" I went running in there and apparently one of the new fledglings had got caught/wedged in between the cage and the nest...pinned upside down. I freed him up and lets the kids hold him for a few minutes. He seemed no the worse for wear so back in the nest I put him.

These three are thriving very well ...after all they have 4 society parents tending to them

Since they fledged they have never gone back into the nest. The societies sleep inside, the three Gouldian fledglings sleep on top together.