3 surprise gouldian babies!

[GouldieFledge]

As I was tidying up the cage today, I noticed a strange mass on the litter...quickly realizing it was a tossed chick! My 2 males and 1 female gouldian have been sitting very tightly on a clutch since the 1st week of November and it was their 1st clutch ever, so I had not really been anticipating anything becoming of the eggs. I can't remember the last time I had checked the nest since it didn't seem pressing, but it wasn't terribly long ago. Anyway after finding the tossed dead chick, I checked and witnessed both males feeding the chick(s) together--was SO cool seeing the little nodule reflectors in the darkness of the nest with my own eyes! Nature is amazing.

After waiting an eternity, I was able to quickly look in with a flashlight when my pastel FINALLY came out of the nest (flying like a madman, might I add, only to pretty much glare at me and then pop right back in): I've got 3 LIVE babies in that nest!

So I guess these are the 4 additional eggs that I found right before Thanksgiving, ones that she added to her original 5 from the starting point in early November. This would be the 16th day since I found round 2, it makes sense with 3 live and 1 tossed. I didn't have enough time to see what's going on with the original 5 eggs; I definitely saw eggs amidst the babies, but don't know the amount or if any broke, etc.

This is the tossed baby. It looks newborn, right? Like I said I can't remember the last time I had been able to check their nest, but from what I briefly saw of the live ones, it looks like they can't really be more than 2 days old.

[lovezebs]

GouldieFledge

Poor little muffin, he's all dried up. Looks like he wasn't fed.

Congratulations on the three chickies. Hopefully parents will continue to feed. Because one chick was tossed, I'd keep a close eyes on the nest.

[debbie276]

Congratulations!
2 males and one hen? Who's the daddy? Are they a trio or in an aviary with others? Very strange that 2 males would be tending to the chicks together. Pairs usually defend their nests from others then the breeding pair.
It could have been that the chick was dragged out when one of the adults shot out of the nest in a hurry, unfortunately that happens more then you'd think.

best of luck, keep us posted

[Sam007]

Congratulations on the 3 chicks!

[Babs _Owner]

GouldieFledge

What a nice surprise to see the new chicks!! Two daddies eh? Where's the momma?

[GouldieFledge]

lovezebs debbie276 Sam007 Babs Thanks all! It was such a pleasant surprise, I'm trying to not get my hopes up.

You heard correctly, 2 daddies tending to the nest! Thought that was pretty strange! My cage has 4 goulds total. Mom is around, this is my WB's clutch. Her and the 2 boys had all been splitting sitting duties very nicely among themselves, many times with 2 of them sitting on the nest simultaneously (whether it be M/M or M/F). I am almost positive this is my normal GB male's clutch, actually I think he fathered this one AND my PB female's clutch that was abandoned. So it is weird that my pastel has decided he needs to be part of the action, too. I have never seen either of my girls accept his advances in mating, I suppose he just feels left out because he tries really hard The only thing concerning at this point is that the Pastel is showing some defensive behavior toward the WB female-he will NOT let her in the nest to tend to the live chicks. He's defending the nest from its own parent. He will chase her around relentlessly and at one point, grabbed her and she was hanging by her wing. Not sure what I can do about that, all 3 were fine prior to hatching. Makes me think, Debbie; if the baby was not intentionally tossed, I could definitely see it accidentally getting dragged in the commotion of my Pastel bee-lining out in a flying tirade.

I'm trying to keep a close eye out cause I am feeling pessimistic on the chicks' outcome. It's hard to see in the nest and I don't want to push them since it's their first hatchlings ever, but I saw at least 2 babies begging this morning--couldn't tell if the crops looked full. I definitely saw both boys feeding them yesterday though. I guess it's time to start offering fresh egg food every day instead of every few--they already have access to dry eggfood 24/7. Any other tips or suggestions anyone has will gladly be taken. Wish us luck!

[GouldieFledge]

WB GIRL JUST ENTERED THE NEST WITH NORMAL BACK MALE. Pastel is out and about eating/drinking currently, he hasn't noticed yet. Good sign, I'm thinking!

[Babs _Owner]

GouldieFledge

I wish I knew how to stop aggression in breeding gouldians. I keep my pairs alone in separate flight cages.

I'm not experienced enough to offer advise. I had only on occasion one of my males Audy getting impatient if his mate Bri takes too long to eat and drink. He will actually shoo her back INTO the nest.

But he seems considerate enough to sit on the nest & make sure she gets plenty to refresh herself nicely.

Then he is like "Woman, Im not a babysitter. Come get yer youngins!"

Then he goes to back into guard mode outside the nest.

Im wondering if this male bred with both females, and the other male is alternating duty, he is somehow getting mixed signals as to who to allow in the nest.

debbie276 is probably the best one for answer/solution on that one.

[lovezebs]

GouldieFledge

Egg food (hard boiled eggs) should be offered all the time to breeding pairs, or molting pairs.
I also offer endless supply of spray millet and lots of fresh greens.

I hope your trio, will figure it out. It is an odd situation, with the two males and one female (especially the one male chasing the Mother away). He probably figures that it's his and the other male's clutch, shrug....

If this young fella becomes too aggressive, I would consider removing him, or the female into another enclosure.

[GouldieFledge]

Was able to get a couple quick photos, not great ones. One crop looked full for sure, the other two I couldn't really tell. Didn't want to push my luck.

[Rox]

Congrats!!! I have found my gouldian males to be doting parents, sometimes more doting than their wives... Sounds like you have two special dads

I would just leave them all alone to figure it out themselves and only become involved if you see some form of aggression taking place. Keep us updated!

[GouldieFledge]

Found another dead baby today. Same exact spot as the last one, on the complete opposite of the cage from where the nest is. Not sure when it happened, I checked the floor over this morning but I could have missed it. It wasn't there yesterday.

Still not sure if it's intentional or not. They are being tended to and fed regularly, form what I can see. Should I pad the cage floor with Orchard grass to try and cushion the fall, or will they die not matter what once flung from the nest?

[debbie276]

Hate to say it but it may be the extra male. Not being the norm they may be competing. I'm sure the fall isn't what's killing the chick, chick's are quite resilient that way. If you'd feel better you could certainly add a bit of cushion though.
Hope your able to figure out what's going on.
Good luck

[GouldieFledge]

Thanks debbie276, I'll be watching the boys. Fortunately I'm off today, so I have all day to keep my eye open.

Now let's say I DO catch a flung chick in the moment, or find it while it is still alive...how to I "offer" it back to the nest?

Also, if I find myself needing to remove one of the males, whether it be for aggression or competition, which one do I remove? The GB whom I believe fathered the clutch but is [slightly] less hands-on with parenting, or the Pastel that was showing aggression toward the female, but seems to also be the most "doting" of the (3, ha) parents? And if I remove one, does he just go into a cage by himself next to the 3 in the other cage; does he need a new companion/will the 3 cause issue?

Fortunately, the mother has been taking her turn in the nest over the past couple of days without as much objection from Pastel, so it looks like the rearing process is possibly getting back to normal. But I've also seen the Pastel come rocketing out of the nest, speed-flying back and forth in the cage for apparently no reason at all, too, (i.e. NOT defending nest from female). I don't understand why he always has to make such a grand exit. So I really hope it's not him tearing out of the nest with a chick attached to him that's causing this-though I suppose that would answer the question of which male to remove.

[debbie276]

Now let's say I DO catch a flung chick in the moment, or find it while it is still alive...how to I "offer" it back to the nest?

I just pick them up gently and put them back.

If you believe it is the Green that is the father I would remove both the Pastel and the extra hen that I think you said is in there too.
Normally a pair will not let other adults in their nest to cause such problems but for whatever reason they are. Might they be a young pair not quite experienced yet? It might be best to breed in individual cages till they get the idea.