Babies Just Left the Nest - Mama Back in the Nest More Eggs?

[Vera]

My four Gouldian finches left the nest about five days ago.
Now I have Mom back in the nest when she has the chance. For example right now the babies are all out and she is in there by herself. I hope she's not laying more eggs?
How old do the babies need to be before I can remove the nest?

[Ricardo Ronsini]

Yep, if she has not laid already, she probably will do soon.

If you do not want another clutch, the best is to take away the nest right after the chicks fledge.

[Sally]

Vera You can remove the nest now, since the babies have all fledged. They can sleep on a perch just fine, and if you leave the nest in, Mama will probably lay more eggs.

[Vera]

Thank you,. I wasn't sure if the babies were too young to remove the nest yet they still like to go in at night and for parts of the day. But I don't want more eggs for a bit!
I see to have some very prolific Gouldians!
Thank you for the help!

[lovezebs]

Vera

More egg babies, yay.

I had one who would begin laying eggs even before the young ones fledged. By the 4th clutch, I would have to pull the plug or she would have kept going.

That's why I always laugh when people say that Gouldians are hard to brèed. I find them to be easier than most other species, and they make wonderful parents too.

[Vera]

Well the nest is likely full of poop too.
I will check and see whats up when I get home. Might leave this batch if shes already far into it. I jsut dont it to be too hard on her

[lovezebs]

Vera

She should be ok with two or three clutches if she's in good health.

Grab her if you get a chance, and feel her breast bone. Check out her feather condition.

If she's plump, bright eyed and in good shape all around, all should be well.

[ac12]

I remove the nest as soon as all the chicks have fledged.
- This way mom and dad pay full attention to raising the fledglings.
- And I don't have fledglings disrupting the SITTING/incubation process.

The trick is to catch the exact time when ALL the chicks are OUT of the nest, as sometimes they will go back into the nest during the day.

As Sally said, the chicks will do fine on the perch.
At lights out, they may scramble looking for the nest, but they get over it quickly and perch with dad and mom.

If there are any eggs in the nest, I either dispose of the eggs or put the eggs with the societies to hatch and raise.

If I want another clutch, after the chicks are weaned and moved to the community cage, I put the nest back.

[Vera]

Well if there were any eggs in there they are probably crushed by now lol! When I came home from work the babies plus mom were all in the nest and poor dad looked so forlorn and lonely on the perch by himself. Mom came back out but the babies are in for the night so I didnt want to disturb them. I will check tomorrow and see what's up.

[Icearstorm]

Vera
If your gouldians are anything like my societies, the eggs should be fine. My society finches regularly squish together in their nest while they have eggs, and so far none have been broken. There are 5 adults, 1 juvenile, 9 nestlings, and 6 eggs in the nest box below:

[Stuart whiting]

Icearstorm

Completely crazy, makes you wander how on erf they all fit in there

[Stuart whiting]

I remove the nest as soon as all the chicks have fledged.
- This way mom and dad pay full attention to raising the fledglings.
- And I don't have fledglings disrupting the SITTING/incubation process.

The trick is to catch the exact time when ALL the chicks are OUT of the nest, as sometimes they will go back into the nest during the day.

As Sally said, the chicks will do fine on the perch.
At lights out, they may scramble looking for the nest, but they get over it quickly and perch with dad and mom.

If there are any eggs in the nest, I either dispose of the eggs or put the eggs with the societies to hatch and raise.

If I want another clutch, after the chicks are weaned and moved to the community cage, I put the nest back.

Spot on, couldn't of said that any better, well said Gary

[Icearstorm]

Stuart whiting
With plenty of room to spare, too!

[lovezebs]

Icearstorm

Holy Crow!

That's what I call high density housing.

What are the approximate dimensions of this box, lol???

[Icearstorm]

lovezebs
I think it's about 8 inches on each side, but slightly taller.