FINCHforum

I have 2 societies (a male and female) in a cage with a male Gouldian (I found him abandoned behind a grocery store back in the beginning of September and got the societies from a breeder to keep him company after I decided to keep him) and the societies were displaying mating behavior so I put a nest into the cage. The female took to it immediately and spent almost all her time in there. Around the 11th of December, I was surprised with an egg in the nest. Over the next few days, she laid a clutch of 6 eggs with incubation starting around the 3rd egg. Throughout the entire incubation period, its been only the female that would sit on the eggs. If she left her nest to eat, drink, or bathe, the eggs would be left unattended. Shining a light on them, at least one of the eggs appears to be fertile.

Since putting in the nest, other than the female society, only the Gouldian has gone into the nest for what only seems to be because he's pushy and likes to be in the nest. He doesn't actually sit on the eggs, he stands above them just for the sake of being in the nest - until the society kicks him out by pecking at him.

I can't seem to figure out why my male society doesn't go into the nest at all and hasn't since I got it despite showing mating behavior and having that behavior returned by the female.

Wolfsb4ne

Hi there.

Welcome to the Forum.

That was kind of you to pick up a stray, and then to get him companions to keep him company.

It is definitely unusual behaviour for a Society finch to stay out of a nest. Normally you can't keep them out of there

Was he sleeping in the nest with his mate before the eggs were layed? I ask, because I'm wondering if your girl is super protective of her eggs, and won't allow him in there. You mentioned that she chases your Gouldian out of there, have you noticed her doing the same with her mate?

By the way, are you sure that you have a true pair of Societies, as in male and female?

Regarding your girl incubating on her own. It can be done. There are some species, where the female does all the incubating alone. Does he bring her some food when she's sitting on the eggs, or does he just do his own thing?

Regarding the Gouldian going into the nest, he's probably just being curious, to see what's going on in there. Maybe he thinks that he might be the Papa who knows?

It will be curious to see, if any of these eggs will hatch. Are you interested in breeding and raising babies? If not, then the nest can be removed. It is not a life necessity for Societies to have a nest, even though they do enjoy them. They can and will sleep on a perch without any difficulty.

I wish you good luck with your little feathered friends, and hope your eggs hatch.

Please feel free to ask any questions, and post some pictures of your birds. We would love to see them.

~Elana~

That is so unusual for a Society to not want to spend time in the nest, they are usually the biggest nest-potatoes I've ever had! Afraid I can't help you with that one. That Gouldian is so lucky you found him!

Welcome to the forum! There's lots of good reading at www.finchinfo.com, where you will find many articles on housing, diet, and both Society and Gouldian finches. If you put your general location in your profile, it makes it easier to answer locale-specific questions later on.

That is very unusual for a Society. Did the breeder have any other birds housed with them? People that use Societies to foster always say to move the juveniles before they imprint. It's reversed from usual, but is it possible he imprinted on another type of finch?

Standing over the eggs but not incubating sounds like an act of dominance to me, particularly if he doesn't seem to be all that bonded with the hen.

Also possible that his instincts just aren't developed yet. He may be instinctually driven to go in there but isn't quite sure what to do once he's in there. That certainly happens.

I'm also perplexed by the other society not going into the nest. With any other species, I'd say that it's likely the male is actually a female. And as such, she's leaving the incubation to the other female as she views it as the other hen's nest, not her own.
But societies don't work like that! It's not uncommon to see 2 or 3 females (and males) packed into a nest, incubating together.

Same-sex couples will demonstrate some courtship-type behaviors like mounting. But only true males will do certain things, like the society courtship dance. (Which is the cutest thing ever. They look like little mechanical wind-up birds!)

Sorry for the late response, I've been away from home the past week!
To answer the first question, they are definitely true male and female. The male sung almost right after I brought him home and began displaying courting behaviour (dancing, presenting grass and twirling it for her, singing and puffing out his chest) about a week later. He looks like a little mechanical bird when he sings and dances.

They were both housed in a cage with many other societies with the breeder and the breeder identified them before I bought them because I asked for a male and female. [He told me if he was wrong, I could bring one back and he would get me the sex that I wanted.]

I've gotten word from the person taking care of them while I'm away that the male society has started staying in the nest with the female and sitting on the eggs while she gets food. A little late now since I'm almost sure the eggs are either dead or empty by now but it'll be good for next time.

I am hoping to be able to breed them as its one of the things I was looking forward to when I got my societies from the breeder. I'm wondering if the male was just not sure what to do since he's the youngest of the three.

The Gouldian is definitely dominant but the female Society shows him who's boss!

Also these are my finches, I forgot to add it in my last post.
The fawn society is the female, her name is Faline. The other society is named Bramble, and my Gouldian is called Skittles.

Wolfsb4ne
Lovely birds.

If your girl has been sitting on the eggs, they may very well be ok. If both are sitting now, then just give it time and wait. They may just surprise you with babies.

Keep us updated, and thanks for sharjng picture. I always e njoy seeing other people's feathered kids.

~Elana~

The eggs didn't make it, but both societies go into the nest now and the male has been very territorial towards the Gouldian when he goes near the nest!
Hopefully I'll get babies next time