Eight Months, Seemingly Happy Birds, but No Eggs

[RobertandCora]

Hello, Folks,

Cora and Robert have been with us now since the end of December, so going on eight months. They seem to have adapted well to our home and over time have displayed very distinct personalities. Robert always goes to sleep first and often with some sort of cover, e.g., under the leaf of one of the plants in their cage. Cora seems to be the "watch bird" and always sits out in the open and doesn't sleep until Robert does.

To date, Cora hasn't laid any eggs. This doesn't really distress us as we're not eager to breed them, but we do wonder that she hasn't laid any eggs at all in nine months. She doesn't seem to have any symptoms of egg binding. We have cuttlebone in the cage (which they don't seem to use often) and give them boiled egg with shells several times a week (which they both eat).

Cora went through a molt that she completed about two months ago, mainly on her head. So far, her beak has never turned black, but has stayed a red, like Robert's. Robert does his mating dance regularly and sings to Cora often. Sometimes they sleep close together on a perch, but usually do not sleep close to each other.

Any ideas on the lack of eggs?

Thanks!

Matthew

[Babs _Owner]

RobertandCora

If it's gouldians and their beaks look the same, are you sure you have a pair? or two males?


pictures would help.

[RobertandCora]

We have wondered that, but their coloring suggests that they are a male and female.


http://www.finchforum.com/gallery/image ... &sd=d&st=0

[paul-inAZ]

The link is dead.
It would help if we knew what species C and R are.

[Zebrafincher]

The other thing to remember with some females, esp. runts is they may not lay eggs if they're not able to or unhealthy. My mum had a female canary and she never laid eggs. She wasn't male (she didn't sing like a male would) but she was also a very small female. Good luck whatever your pair turns out to be

Kind Regards

Zebrafincher

[Shannylee]

RobertandCora, looks like a M + F pair to me. Does he court her with a silly dance where he stands tall with his head hooked down and he jumps up and down while he sings? Pretty gouldies!

[RobertandCora]

Thanks very much for the advice, everyone.

They're Gouldian Finches, to answer an earlier question and, as Zebrafincher noted, Robert has a range of calls and songs, while Cora mainly has a little squawk.

Robert does his mating dance almost every morning. He also appears to give Cora commands with his different songs. For example, when he's ready to eat, he'll make a little plaintive call and then two of them will fly back and forth to different parts of the cage and look around as if checking for predators. Once they're satisfied they're safe, they'll eat - sometimes simultaneously, but often only one at a time, while the other keeps watch.

Robert also sings an intricate song without the dance, though when he does, he pulls his head up and focuses intently on Cora as if trying to mesmerize her.

They're quite a pair to watch.

Again, thanks very much for the advice.

Matthew

[Babs _Owner]

RobertandCora

What type of nest have you given them? Gouldians breed in a nestbox.

If you have a nestbox have you added nesting materials? The female has to inspect & accept the nest before mating will occur.

Does she lean way in with her face to him when he sings? They are very beautiful!

[Shannylee]

Babs, do you put the nesting material in the nest box or do you just add it to the cage and let them do it?

[Babs _Owner]

Shannylee

Put it IN the nest.

If you're using an open nest they wont breed. They breed in boxes, dark nests with a feeling of security.

You throw in some co coa fibre. Enough to make a nest. The male will stomp it into a bowl shape and the female accepts and mates inside the nest.

Thats how I get them to breed. They are a lovely pair.

[Shannylee]

Babs, I have the teardrop grass woven nests in my aviary. The gouldians jump in but that's about it. Do you use a wooden box with a round hole or a plastic breeding box with a wider entrance? The societies and mannikins have claimed all of the grass nests anyhow. LOL!

[debbie276]

Gouldians prefer a large deep wooden box. In a mixed aviary I would suggest a box with a hole so that they can defend their nest easier.
Good looking birds, best of luck

[paul-inAZ]

They will want a dark and private place to lay eggs in.
Pet stores sell inexpensive wooden boxes about 7 inches cubed with an entry hole in front.
I use paper nesting material from my document shredder. These short paper strips work very well, absorb moisture and don't tangle their feet. Put a couple of inches inside the box and she will rearrange it in to a bowl shape when ready to go.