Gold Breast situation

[cindy]

As you know I have 3 Gold Breasts, 1 male and 2 females oused together. I did have a fourth male but he passed months ago while in a large fight. Things were very peaceful until about a month or so ago. The female from the one pair started chasing the lone female around the cage, it quieted down then it would start all over again.

I have two nest in the cage, one in either corner. The pair kept to theirs and the lone female kept to hers. The pair started mating and building, they left eggs at the bottom of the cage, eggs in both nests. All during this time the pair's female chased the lone female, the pair finally chased her out of her nest and built in there. Things calmed down until yesterday. The chasing started again, I moved the lone female to a smaller cage, the dominate female would not let her eat or come near any of the nests. I was trying not to bother them much but the lone female was getting plucked a little.

Once the pair was alone in the cage the male started building more, they were mating again and now are in the nest all the time. During the chasing all the eggs they laid went unincubated so about a dozen little eggs between the two nest are gone. I am hoping they will successfully sit on the eggs they have laid and produce at least one male so I can pair it with the lone little girl for her company. She is not happy to be away from the pair and is calling and flitting around. She spent most of yesterday eating and sleeping but seems very upset today. She is in a divided cage with a male socieity next to her.

The society was being chased by the other socieities and when put in with zebras he went after them and plucked them. Both the society and the GB female have a nest of their own to sleep in.

I would like her to be with her own kind but not at the expense of them not letting her eat and plucking her side. She seems so upset, I hope she settles down. She is calling to the others but they are not calling back, they are to busy with building and nesting. The male is weaving coco fiber all around the entrance to the nest.

Since moving the female and the pair settling down I noticed the RCCB's are watching the pair of GB build and the RCCB male started building more also. The GB and RCCB are next door to each other.

[CandoAviary]

Many times tresomes don't work out. Two will usually form a bond and then they see the third as a threat to the nest.
I have many in a large outdoor aviary. They have little trouble with fights. There will be some chasing if a male or female gets too close to anothers pairs nest but there is plenty of room for the chased to fly off and escape. The chaser returns to his nest/territory right away. I also supply 3 nest to every 1 pair...keeps squabbles over nesting sights to a minimum.
I have never had luck keeping more than 1 pair in a cage setting. To have sucess in the pair incubating and having hatching it was best you moved her... and for her own safety. They do not do good by themselves though. Probably best to get her a mate or put her with other friendly finches.
Good luck with your new clutch of eggs..... hope they hatch this time, little goldbreast are so tiny and the chicks even tinier

[Sally]

After a few days, you could try taking out the divider and letting the GB hen and the Society together. They might buddy up, but you would have to keep an eye on them to make sure there is no plucking going on. Once the GB eggs hatch and the babies are ready to be weaned, the single GB hen would be a good babysitter for them, I would think.

[cindy]

I have also considered putting her in with the two gentle zebra young, the fawn and her little brother. The societies is a male and I was very upset when he had a beak full of feather from the one of the three young zebra males from the first clutch. I don't think I could trust him with her. The little fawn is very gentle as is the other little brother, they are small.

Do you think she would be ok with the fawn and her brother? I would like her to have some company. We are looking for a mate for her but it may have to wait until a show comes that actually has finches!

[Sally]

You could always try it, just keeping an eye on them at first (as you have to do anyway with any new pairings/occupants).

[cindy]

Thanks Sally. I'll try putting her in with the little fawn and her brother. It is only about another month or so until another show but who knows maybe the other pair will produce and she can go back in with them and play nanny.

[cindy]

Well putting her with the zebra young did not last long. The male chased her on the second day. She is pack in a divided flight cage. She is chirping and swinging on a swing.

The pair of gold breast have settled into the nesting mode. I was a bit disappointed with the amount of eggs I found in the nest the abandoned. There were over a dozen.

I added long strands of coco fiber to the cage and the male pulled them up to the nest and wove a round border in the entrance leaving a tiny hole to get in and out of.

The female is in her nest all the time except to eat and drink, the male takes over. They were mating non stop for a while there.

Hopefully they will produce, I am trying to find a male for the lone female. If I can't I'll give her a friend (a girl) from the clutch the pair produces.

[franny]

My goldbreast female and society hen I got to keep her compnay get along great. At first the larger society scared her a bit and she would show an open mouth to the soc if she came too close. Now they are best buddies and preen each other.

I didn't know for sure if a male society might try to breed with her... so I got a female. But since you have the lone male, I'd try them together and see if she does better with him than the zebras. You could always later put a GB hen with her once you have one.

Boy I'm glad I only have the room for the one cage! Cindy you have so many kinds of finches and they all seem to be breeding for you that it's a really trial to shuffle them around as they wean! Though I must admit that I would love to get a pair of Gouldians, but have to wait for my two to die to have the room... On the one hand I want them to live long and happy lives, but on the other hand I want more birds!!!

[cindy]

Franny, I am a bit reluctant to put her in with him, he was in with zebras and he plucked them. When she was in with the zebras she had no problem getting on the swing or eating out of their dishes, the little brother chased her, the fawn little girl did not mind her one bit. She is fine in her little space with a swing.

The GB pair is sitting on eggs right now so in about a week and a half we shall see if we have little GBs.

When my birds have young that are weaned and need to be moved I have a few 30x18 cages that stack. All my cages are on shelving and set up for easy cleaning and feeding. Room and shuffling is not a problem usually. Right now she is in a 30x18 cage divided in two, she is on one side, the society male is on the other side. Their cage is on one of the stacking shelves.

[franny]

Yes, I remember seeing pictures of your setup. Very nice cages! Lots of light and lots of greenery. No wonder you seem to be having such good luck. Wish I had the room for more cages!

[cindy]

Target had 72 inch high by 36 wide x 18 deep shelves for $38 a while back.

[franny]

My sister would kill me.... we live in a VERY tiny one bedroom apartment, and I already take up half the living room with my drafting table, canvases, etc. Besides, we have a hard enough time hearing the tv over the chattering of the 2 little fids we have now!

[Mannikin_luver]

Cindy I wish you all the best with your current pair sitting on eggs! I hope they produce some healthy and happy babies for you!

[cindy]

Thank you Brant...hope your finches are doing well

[Mannikin_luver]

Yep they are! I posted a update in the species section!