Separating a male/female Gouldian Pair

[a_gouldian]

We received a pair of Gouldians (our first) in Feb. Three weeks after they arrived they had there first clutch. Since then there have been another 4-5 unsuccessful clutches. On advice from someone we put them in large flight cages in the same room to stop the breeding cycle and give her a rest. She is in a cage with two Lavenders and he is an a cage with two Painted and two Owl finches. Both the Painted and Owls are sitting on eggs right now and everyone minds their own business.

We hate to separate them because they are bonded, but don't see another alternative. In the Fall we may be getting another Gouldian pair so after that if we have to separate the pairs we can put the males in one cage and the females in another cage so they won't feel alone.

Appreciate any thoughts on this.

[debbie276]

There are some that separate the sexes but I also don't like to break a pair up. You could certainly separate after the breeding season in same sex cages.
I have never had an issue of over breeding leaving them together.
When you say they had unsuccessful clutches after the first were they in their own cage? Were the eggs not fertile? Did they not sit or did the eggs hatch and the chicks died?
If you cut down on the amount of protein foods they should come out of breeding mode. Last resort you could do the austerity diet as described here:
https://ladygouldian.com/content/austerity-diet

[a_gouldian]

There are some that separate the sexes but I also don't like to break a pair up. You could certainly separate after the breeding season in same sex cages.
I have never had an issue of over breeding leaving them together.
When you say they had unsuccessful clutches after the first were they in their own cage? Were the eggs not fertile? Did they not sit or did the eggs hatch and the chicks died?
If you cut down on the amount of protein foods they should come out of breeding mode. Last resort you could do the austerity diet as described here:
https://ladygouldian.com/content/austerity-diet

For the first 4 clutches they were in their own cage, in a room with no other birds. The first clutch was infertile. The second clutch they wouldn't go back in the nest after the first chicks started hatching. The next two clutches they tossed the chicks soon after they hatched.

We then moved them to the "bird room" in a large flight cage with other birds. They started nesting again and tossed the chicks. Then they built a new nest on the other side of the cage, 6 eggs were laid. We decided to put the eggs in the Society Finch nest box (even though we only have had them for three weeks) and separated the Gouldians.

We could try putting them together in the large flight cage and not give them egg food or sprouted seed. The male is in a large flight cage with a Owls and Painted Finches that are sitting on eggs.
We could wait a few more weeks until we find out if any of those eggs are going to hatch. The Owls are young (about 8 moths old) and this is their first attempt at breeding.

[debbie276]

Oh, so the gouldians did not have any successful clutches. I personally would reduce their protein till next molt then start upping it again heading into molt and breeding mode. The low protein will take them out of breeding mode and rest and shrink their reproductive organs. A complete rest is very important for their health and future success.
Gouldians can take a couple seasons to get things right as long as there are no other reasons then inexperience.

Best of luck

[a_gouldian]

If we start the low protein/resting diet today how long does it take to affect their breeding cycle?

[debbie276]

Is the hens beak black still?
IF they are still in breeding mode it may take a week or two before they begin to come out of it.
Spring mine go into molt then when the molt is done they go right into breeding till end of December. January they rest till they molt again.

[a_gouldian]

Yes, the hen's beak is still black (dark charcoal gray). We have never seen it any other color. What color should it be when she is not in breeding mode?

[debbie276]

Red and Black heads have a red tipped beak and Yellow heads have a yellow tipped beak.

[a_gouldian]

Will she have a white beak with a red tip like the male does, or will she have a black beak with a red tip? I never was clear on that.

[debbie276]

Same as the male. ;)