what should i do to my gouldian pair?

[CandoAviary]

Yes, I did have to seperate them...not only in the mixed aviary but in their individual breeding cages. They tend to breed like rabbits.

I have found that if I want a hen to come into breeding condition (cosidering she is not moulting and has rested and is old enough)
I will put her in a cage with a nest stuffed with coco fiber in the breeding room. She soon hears the other breeders and their chicks begging for food... She soon starts looking around as to say...hey where's my cock? I then add a male or put a male in a cage next to her and let the love blossum.
If you do not have other breeding pairs, I would set her up with nest and place the male in a cage close by. Foods that are high in protein will stimulate her also... green milk seed, chitted seed, egg, etc.
This should persuade her to get in the mood. But I agree with Tiffany, unless the beak is dark the outcome of the clutch can be doomed... not incubated, tossed, even eaten, etc.
Also if your hen is not in condition, eggbinding can result also. Normally a hen will not come into condition if she has some health problems so make sure she is healthy and at her peak before breeding.
Here's a black beak hen and her fellow

[finchmix22]

Candice,
Does the same hold true for other finches, regarding the beak color change when in breeding condition? Just curious.

[ilmillu]

good news today found their first egg, but i heard the female coughing. Is there any medicine that wont hurt the egs

[CandoAviary]

Candice,
Does the same hold true for other finches, regarding the beak color change when in breeding condition? Just curious.

Just gouldians that I know of.

[CandoAviary]

good news today found their first egg, but i heard the female coughing. Is there any medicine that wont hurt the egs

Ivermectin... like morning bird iverlux in the water or a drop on the back of the neck...
You must do this soon as the air sac mites will worsen.
The stress of breeding, egg laying will many times bring to the surface underlying problems that were hidden before the stress.
Not to worry, easy fix and will not hurt the eggs of chicks inside...
Congrats on your first egg

[nixity]

Could also easily be an upper respiratory infection or Trich brought on by stress which are both much more commonly diagnosed than ASM.

[ilmillu]

yesterday laid her 3rd egg and today there were still 3 but shes not incubating them yet? isnt it supposed to incubate them on their last egg? im woerried cos my only pair of societies got their own 3 babies

[dfcauley]

I'm very surprised to hear that EVERYONE has to separate their birds to get them to stop breeding. Are there no breeders that keep their birds in large aviaries without separating them??
I've had my gouldians for over 10 years and have never separated the pairs even when I used to keep them in large cages before the aviaries.

I HATE seperating my birds. I am determined to find a way to keep them together in pairs...... if you can do it so can I.....

[CandoAviary]

yesterday laid her 3rd egg and today there were still 3 but shes not incubating them yet? isnt it supposed to incubate them on their last egg?

Gouldians will start incubating towards the end of the clutch...sometimes as early as the 3rd egg, sometimes not until the last egg is laid. Most of mine start to incubate around the 4th or 5th egg...no matter how many more they lay. I wouldn't be concerned yet

[ilmillu]

still with 3 eggs, and they are incubating them during the day only, from my observations

[finchmix22]

yesterday laid her 3rd egg and today there were still 3 but shes not incubating them yet? isnt it supposed to incubate them on their last egg?

Gouldians will start incubating towards the end of the clutch...sometimes as early as the 3rd egg, sometimes not until the last egg is laid. Most of mine start to incubate around the 4th or 5th egg...no matter how many more they lay. I wouldn't be concerned yet

What if they sit all night to incubate and leave during the daytime? My rccb's will sit at night and during the day they are not consistent. They have only two eggs so far, so is that alright at this point?

[lovemyfinch]

If I am not mistaken, rccb`s are one of the species that love to sleep in their nest? If so there shouldn`t be a problem as they are not necessarily incubating but just sleeping next to their eggs.

[finchmix22]

Thanks Janine. That is helpful. I guess they are getting ready for more eggs? We love watching them and trying to figure out what is going on without disturbing them while nesting. My other pair has been dutifully sitting on some eggs, but I can't get close to check on number or viability. They would be due about next week, if my estimate is correct. The other pair just started this week, so maybe in two weeks?

[ilmillu]

7 days of incubation... was thinking about what i should do after they raise the clutch (if everything goes well) should i remove the nest and let them rest or?

[lovemyfinch]

That would be decision based on whether you want them to have another clutch, or stop after one. I would say, if they turn out to be good parents, definately let them have another clutch. Of course, that also depends on whether you either have the room for more or an outlet to which you can sell or re home them.