my breeding results

[vslopes]

I started my breeding season in October with 5 pairs that I got from one breeder in Miami I asked for 10 unrelated birds I hope they are, I got at least 50 babies atch one pair abandoned all the babies on all 3 clutches, the pair with a blue back and a split to blue one way or another kill most off the babies by the time they came out some where troun out of the nest and some they did not feed after they came out and most of there problem whose aggression with the other pairs after the babies atch they jumped out and dragged the babies out I only got one alive
I only got 12 babies alive I lost 4 on their molt ,from one pair I got 8 babies the other pair got 3 and the blue pair got one alive
I’m happy with 12 I’m using a large flight they are all together and I now is very hard to breed like this and at the moment I can’t separate they babies from the parents and is always a fight in there I’m thinking on adding next year 2 or 3 pairs of societies but I been reading that they can carry disease wat should I do?

[debbie276]

I assume you are talking about gouldians?
What size cage are they all in?
Sounds like there isn't enough room for them to breed together peacefully.
Personally I feel it is our responsibility as breeders to figure out what is wrong and not just get society's to foster.
Maybe breeding 1 or 2 pair in a large cage would be better then 5 pair.
Hard to give you specific advise without knowing your set up and diet.

[vslopes]

they are in a 20 foot by 8 foot by 7 f high outdoor flight ill try to incert a picture

[vslopes]

i don;t now how to insert a picture but is a large flight with only 22 birds now 10 adults as 12 babies

[debbie276]

Sounds large enough.
What type of nests are they using? Gouldians do very well in deep dark wooden boxes. Also helpful are the boxes with holes so it's easier for the pair to defend the nest and keep intruders out.
Are you supplying high protein foods such as hards boiled eggs?

[lovezebs]

vslopes

It sounds to me, like there is definitely some sort sort of a problem.

I have found, that Gouldians make excellent parents (if offered the right conditions, the right food, and enough privacy from other nosy birds).

If they constantly have to fight off other birds, and defend their nests from other birds, then there's little time left to raise their babies properly.

Adding Societies into this already unhappy mix, is not (in my opinion ) going to fix the problem. If anything, it may make it worse.

[vslopes]

well i;m going to do it again i answer before but it didn.t show i use double nests and the food should be good i use boilld egg mixed with soaked seeds and cd egg food and i use pearl morbide mix with cd egg food i use seeds from terri and another kind and i use roudybush niblles

[vslopes]

this is the nests

[vslopes]

one more pic

[Paul's Amazing Birds]

vslopes

Nice job on the aviary! I would add a lot more vegetation so your birds have places to play and explore. Maybe some fake ficus trees or a palms inside and some kind of growing trees and bushes for the outside part. Tree branches and swings are also important play things. As mentioned, your nesting birds seem to be distracted by others in the colony. If you're looking to raise babies, you might consider installing a few separate breeding cages to give your birds maximum privacy. I use selective breeding cages for my canaries for that reason.

I'm not concerned about production from my colony birds but I do offer them plenty of nesting materials and an abundance of nest boxes and wicker nests to choose from. I never disturb the nest boxes and occasionally they surprise me with a whole new clutch of babies. The key for me is plenty of egg food (heavy on the eggs) and a wide variety of veggies along with the best vitamin fortified seed I can buy. Of course, they also have a fresh water supply and clean bath water every day.

I would do some of the above and focus on why you lost birds at their first molt. It's a stressful time and they really need a high protein nestling food at that point.

Best of luck with your new bird habitat,
Paul

[debbie276]

Do you notice birds going into or trying to go into others nests?
I've never used nests like that. Is the nest in the closed section with a hole entrance? They don't look very deep.

Love your aviary

[vslopes]

nest

[debbie276]

Neat boxes.
I would try as Paul's Amazing Birds said above. Lots of greens and hidey holes to defuse the aggression. Lots of hard boiled egg and high protein foods when there are chicks and they are molting. More nests then pairs.
If this is the first time breeding for these birds they may just need time to learn. Try not to disturb the boxes unless you have to. Pulling a pair or two into individual breeding cages is also something you may want to consider. When they are successful you can try putting them back in your aviary. At that point if there's a problem again you know it's the colony setting that isn't working for you.

good luck, keep us posted

[finchman]

I know there is some debate about using societies. That being said, in my limited experience I have found that the gouldians don't do well as parents; at least for the first year. I would rather leave 1 fertile egg with them each clutch and foster out the rest until they get it right. I don't see the point in losing 10-20 young while the parents "figure it out". Just my 2 cents, and I might catch flak for it,

[debbie276]

Using fosters as an emergency back-up has it's place. I would prefer using another gouldian pair though.
I don't think taking eggs from gouldians and always fostering because something might happen is fair to the goulds. It is our responsibility to figure out what's missing and adjust.
Your idea of leaving a few eggs with the goulds is a good one. Though remember most birds will not sit on and raise only one egg.