4rth Baby Gouldian tossed ?!?!

[Sandra]

I am trying to understand this .... this is my Gouldian's first cluth.

-2nd day they tossed 2.
-3rd day they tossed 1.
-4rth day (today, Sunday) they tossed 1 .....

But why would they toss. I saw the female coming out of the nest holding baby by they head and flying back and forward numerous times until the baby fell. I went to gets it as soon as it was dropped but he was dead.

This is a sad pic, but can anyone see something wrong with this baby? This is how all other 3 babies were found. Should I take the last surviving one before it gets tossed?

[WrenNAustinTX]

If you've got a place for that last baby, its go time.

[Sandra]

Do they die because the parents don't feed them?
Too odd to have 4 babies die out of natural causes, that is if they are being fed.

I would be hand feeding the baby. I have to get the preparation at the store and hope for the best.

[Sam007]

First time young gouldian parents usually toss their chicks.
Society finches can be used as foster parents to raise gouldian's tossed chicks if someone does not have hand feeding experience.

[MiaCarter]

Sorry - duplicate post.

[MiaCarter]

It sounds like they're dying due to not being fed, so I would take over with hand feeding straight away.

That baby's crop is empty. So that's probably why he passed.
He has a very dry look to him too. See the wrinkling on the crop/neck area? That's also indicative of dehydration from not getting fed.

Are these new parents? The new parents don't always know what to do.
I've had parents who were wonderful brooders, but once it came time to feed, they didn't know what to do.

I'd also look to see if there's any disturbances that could be preventing them from feeding properly. Like lots of nest checks, disruptive cage mates, lots of human activity in the room or similar.

[Sandra]

It sounds like they're dying due to not being fed, so I would take over with hand feeding straight away.

That baby's crop is empty. So that's probably why he passed.

MiaCarter, yes its first clutch Does this mean they will never feed babies? I should hurry up when the store opens to get the formula I guess.

[MiaCarter]

Sandra -- Yes, get to the store ASAP!

No, it doesn't mean they're forever doomed to failure.
They just didn't get it right this time; next time, they could be great parents. So I'd wait a few months and then try again.
Are they young? You generally don't want to try to breed until they're at least 1 year old.

It just takes a bit of trial and error. I've had parents who didn't feed for several clutches, and just when I was going to give up, they started feeding! So it just takes time.

I lucked out with my gouldians, though, they have a 100% survival rate on their first clutch so far! And we're just about to fledge within the next day or two! But you can't count your chicks until they wean!

There's a stereotype that gouldians are bad parents. Honestly, I think they're probably no worse than any other species. The babies are just worth more monetarily so people are more apt to foster to societies. But if you keep doing it, the gouldians never really learn.

P.S. --- Don't forget a digital under-the-tongue thermometer to get the formula temp right!
You could leave him with the parents to keep him warm. And perhaps they'll take over feeding!
Or you could build a brooder -- shoe box with a heating pad and cup of water for humidity. Or use a diaper wipes warmer. There's directions somewhere on here. Let me find the link.

Here it is:
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=12274

[Sandra]

Mia Carter, Am waiting for the store to open. I can clearly hear the last baby.


I will leave baby with parents and just feed the baby. I don't have anything else to keep baby warm

[finchmix22]

Sandra
I agree with Mia, let them try again after a break. The lone survivor probably needs to eat asap or that one will die too. So, if you want to handfeed, I'd get some formula and start asap. Put the baby in a baby wipes warmer with a moist sponge and a small temperature/humidity gage. You can get those at PetSmart in the reptile section. Then, feed small amounts every hour for the first couple days and then go to two hours for a week, then 3-4 hours once it gets pin feathers. Then transfer the baby to a small cage with a nest and keep feeding 4 times a day until weaned. Good Luck!

[finchmix22]

Sandra
That is fine, I've kept babies with parents to incubate and fed the babies. Sometimes, the parents take over feeding after three days, so keep giving the parents eggfood and worms etc. Good Luck!

[Sandra]

Will it disturbed the parents if I take the baby to feed every hour?

I think the last eggs that wasn't hatched on Friday has hatched since then..... So there could be 2 babies!

Store opens at 11am ..... I wont be able to go until 1230pm .... so before 1pm I will take the 2 babies and feed them and then put them back with parents.

[finchmix22]

Sandra
If you have some organic applesauce, you can give them a little bit of that to hold them until the store opens. Yes, I take the whole nest out and feed them, put the babies back in the nest and replace the nest. The parents get upset, but I think that is why they started feeding because they wanted me to get out of their flight! LOL. Keep trying and they'll get it eventually!

My Forbes are now feeding multiple babies, but the last clutch they tossed 3 babies. I saved one and my Society males fostered him to weaning; although, he sings like a Society finch now. So, I put him in a cage with a male parrot finch. We'll see if he learns to sing properly now.

[MiaCarter]

Agreed; keeping him with the parents is good.

They won't love the disturbance, but they usually tolerate it.

If you want to make up some handfeeding formula, I have a recipe that I use:
http://wp.me/p4JWrl-ar

Or you can just use some organic applesauce. Even an organic baby food like squash or peas or baby rice cereal would work.

If you can't get anything for food right now, I would give him a bit of pedialyte or homemade rehydration solution now (recipe here: http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=18044)

The only problem is that it can be hard to "hold" a drop of runny liquid on a toothpick, so if you'd like, for liquids, you can use a tiny paintbrush. Or if you have a medium one, you could cut away all but a small number of bristles - about the size of a toothpick when all is said and done. The paintbrushes are better for holding liquid.

I'd definitely do the rehydration solution or pedialyte now, as he may not have hours until the store opens. They can literally pass in a matter of minutes. Hydration will likely be his most pressing need anyways.

[Sandra]

[quote="finchmix22"]Sandra
If you have some organic applesauce, you can give them a little bit of that to hold them until the store opens. quote]

I have applesauce but is NOT organic .... is that too risky to use?

Both parents are on top of baby. but I can hear at least 1 ... its still alive.