Gouldians AND Star Finch Baby Pics!!

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 6:56 pm

Doing the happy dance around the house these days. I have 10 live Gouldian babies - all closed banded as of today. And also just today a Star Finch was hatched!

The Gouldian babies came from 2 different sets of parents. One set tossed so those 6 are being fostered by 2 separate sets of Society Finches (one set has 4 and the other set of Societies have 2 gouldians). Don't know why the gouldian adults tossed as these were proven parents (by me). The other 4 gouldian babies are with their parents and doing well.

My pair of Star Finches laid 12 eggs but never sat at all. At day 10, I transferred 9 eggs to a pair of Society Finches that already had 2 Gouldian eggs (are you confused yet?). The Stars skipped one day of laying (I thought they were done) and then the day after - they continued to lay 3 more eggs - but still never sat. I ended up discarding those Star eggs as I had no where else to put them. This Star hatchling is in with the set of Society Finches that have 2 live Gouldlian babies and all 3 babies are being fed quite well.

Happy is me but I know everything is not "safe" until all the youngsters are weaned, fledged AND completely coloured up, but... so far, so good!

BTW the Gouldians who tossed were split up and the hen has been paired up with another male Gouldian. She has laid 3 eggs so far. Hopefully they will both sit and feed any babies when they hatch.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 7:02 pm

Wow.... things look great for you right now. Please keep us posted. I can't sait to see the little star when it fledges.

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 7:16 pm

Congrats!!

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:00 pm

I can see why A happy dance is definitely called for good job $\:D/$

FinchMommy · Post by **FinchMommy** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 9:41 pm

Way to go birdies!!!!!!!!!!!!

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 4:23 am

good luck with them all Liz, be sure to keep up the viagra for the males though

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:35 am

mickp wrote:good luck with them all Liz, be sure to keep up the viagra for the males though

Ha! It's not the males I tend to worry about. I lost a female about 10 months ago to egg binding (New Years Eve), so I make sure to give them all plenty of vits, calcium and iodine without overdoing it.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:48 am

Thanks all. It was not a road without it's bumps along the way however.

I did have a pair of Gouldians that laid 6 eggs and both birds sat perfectly (if only all my Gouldians would sit so well). Unfortunately that clutch was wholy infertile making it a waste of time and effort on their part. That was a special pairing of a Silver male with a Split-to-blue hen. They also had 2 clutches in spring of this year (last season) and the same thing - both clutches were infertile. The male is 1-1/2 years old and the hen is 2-1/2 years old. I've now separated and re-paired these two with other birds. No eggs for either yet.

About the proven pair that tossed one chick - the male adult would not help incubate whatsoever. They had laid 8 eggs but only 4 hatched. Presumably because of the hen doing all sitting.

I still have two more pairs of Gouldians set up in separate cages but NO interest in breeding. Each breeding cage is lined with newspaper on both outside walls for privacy from other finches. The back of the cages are all up against a wall.

So all in all, I'm quite happy with the results so far but still hoping for the others to get in on the action

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:01 am

Here's a pic from today of the two older Lady Gouldian babies and the Star Finch (fuzzy butt) baby. awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Post by **Sally** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:54 pm

That picture is adorable!! The Star baby is so tiny next to the Gouldians. The fact that the Societies are feeding a much smaller and different species shows that they are wonderful fosters. And 10 live Gouldian babies--that's great!

H2015 · Post by **H2015** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:09 am

That is absolutely amazing!! Congrats Liz!!!

My pair of Star Finches laid 12 eggs but never sat at all. At day 10, I transferred 9 eggs to a pair of Society Finches that already had 2 Gouldian eggs (are you confused yet?). The Stars skipped one day of laying (I thought they were done) and then the day after - they continued to lay 3 more eggs - but still never sat. I ended up discarding those Star eggs as I had no where else to put them. This Star hatchling is in with the set of Society Finches that have 2 live Gouldlian babies and all 3 babies are being fed quite well.

I'm currently having the exact same problem with my stars, 13 eggs and no incubation. I don't have societies unfortunately but seriously considering getting a pair sometime soon to help in situations like these.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:45 am

Thank you, all. Only the 1 Star Finch egg has hatched to date and I don't believe any more will (out of 9 that I gave the Societies). But I'm so pleased that the one at least did survive and hatch. All 3 (2 Gouldians and 1 Star) baby are getting much bigger and are being well taken care of by the Society Finches. The Gouldian babies are closed banded as I mentioned and I will be banding the Star baby at the end of this week. I believe I'm going to name the Star baby: "Wishupona"

BTW - These Society Finches consist of one adult male and two juvenile Societies (hatched July 10, 2008) that I wanted to learn fostering. They did start sitting a bit late when they first began but once they did start - they were perfect, all 3 of them.

FINCHforum

Gouldians AND Star Finch Baby Pics!!

Gouldians AND Star Finch Baby Pics!!

Re: Gouldian AND Star Finch Babies!!