Why would LG's skip a day (or more) in laying eggs?

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:22 am

I have two pairs currently set up in separate breeding cages and both pairs laid 6 eggs -

Both laid first egg on March 13th...and third egg on March 15th.

Pair #1 completed their clutch but only sat tight beginning March 19th. The hen does ALL the brooding. The male is VERY interested in the nest but has not gone in since the first egg was laid. These are both first-timers.

Pair #2 had 4 eggs by March 19th and were still not sitting tight. So I moved two eggs out to my Society Finches to foster just incase this pair would not sit at all. As I removed the two eggs - the hen dropped another egg on the floor of the cage (what timing!), so I took it also and gave it to the Society's giving them 3 eggs to foster. I put 3 fake eggs in with the 2 remaining real ones. On March 21st - this pair finally began sitting tight and the last time I checked they had laid another egg giving them 3 real and 3 fake eggs. This pair are proven by previous owners but not together.

They have cardboard between their cages and both get the same good variety of fresh and dried foods, veggies, hb egg, Herb Salad, soaked seed, charcoal, F-Vite, calcium in their water twice a week, cuttlebone... etc, etc.

I'm just curious why pair #2 skipped days of laying eggs...any ideas?

exoticgouldian · Post by **exoticgouldian** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:43 am

I have had several of my Gouldian pairs skip laying eggs, sometimes they didnt lay for 2 days and started laying again. And weird enough, one of my hens, laid 2 eggs a day for 2 days (making it 4 eggs in 2 days)

So i think the hen's timing has gone a bit cookoo there

SO now i wait atleast 2 days before i decide to give the eggs to foster.

Post by **Sally** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:13 pm

Is it just me, or do others think that Gouldians simply don't follow the rules?

With other species, you can pretty much use a timetable, and the eggs will hatch on schedule, babies fledge on schedule, etc. But Gouldians seem to just fumble and bumble thru this breeding process, making it up as they go along!

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:13 am

my male takes his turn at sitting on the eggs, as soon as the female comes out of the nest he gets straight in.
she lays her eggs day by day but doesnt start to sit until she has laid the last egg