Hi.
It is my first time that my Gouldian chicks hatched. But they are being tossed outside the nest. The pair are in a cage alone. It is the 3rd time i am finding a chick outside the nest and I am putting them back in the nest. It was a clutch of 5 eggs, 4 hatched and waiting for the last egg to hatch supposed tomorrow. Should I separate the cock from the nest? Can you suggest any help as I am new with breeding?
Thanks
Chick Tossing
- Babs _Owner
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Re: Chick Tossing
mizzi
I've never had chick's tossed, thankfully. Have you meditated on the position of the nest and the type of nest and the parent's sense of security/privacy?
Do you have an abundance of seed, millet and boiled egg, minced swiss chard or kale available to them at all times so they feel confident to be able to feed the offspring?
Are the parents getting along? Debbie and Elana guided me through most of my gouldian breeding. And when I was having problems (as per their advice), sometimes it simply took me sitting down for a few hours, clearing my mind and monitoring the parents behavior and getting a"feel" of what the parents needed from me.
In almost all the cases I had problems, it was something I had overlooked. I hope this helps.
I've never had chick's tossed, thankfully. Have you meditated on the position of the nest and the type of nest and the parent's sense of security/privacy?
Do you have an abundance of seed, millet and boiled egg, minced swiss chard or kale available to them at all times so they feel confident to be able to feed the offspring?
Are the parents getting along? Debbie and Elana guided me through most of my gouldian breeding. And when I was having problems (as per their advice), sometimes it simply took me sitting down for a few hours, clearing my mind and monitoring the parents behavior and getting a"feel" of what the parents needed from me.
In almost all the cases I had problems, it was something I had overlooked. I hope this helps.
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Re: Chick Tossing
Sometimes it is a learning thing.
I had one pair toss every single chick in their first season of 3 clutches.
I put the tosslings back 2 times, after the 3rd toss, the tossling, if still alive, gets put into the societies to foster raise.
Season 2, and they were like different birds, not a single toss.
Thoughts:
- privacy, I have the nest in the upper rear corner of the cage, to give as much privacy as possible.
- food, give them a lot and do not let the food run low/out.
- food, They may also change what they eat when the egg hatches, so watch what food they eat. I have had birds change what they eat several times from egg laying to egg hatching to fledging to weaning the chicks.
Contrary to what you may read, it is not always the male that tosses. I saw my hen toss some of the hatchlings.
Also, contrary to what you may read, a deep nest will not prevent tossing. They call it tossing, but the parent will pick up the hatchling with its beak, and carry it out of the nest (including my nest which has a hallway) and take the hatchling to the far side of the cage where it is dropped/left.
I have also seen societies toss gouldian hatchlings.
I had one pair toss every single chick in their first season of 3 clutches.
I put the tosslings back 2 times, after the 3rd toss, the tossling, if still alive, gets put into the societies to foster raise.
Season 2, and they were like different birds, not a single toss.
Thoughts:
- privacy, I have the nest in the upper rear corner of the cage, to give as much privacy as possible.
- food, give them a lot and do not let the food run low/out.
- food, They may also change what they eat when the egg hatches, so watch what food they eat. I have had birds change what they eat several times from egg laying to egg hatching to fledging to weaning the chicks.
Contrary to what you may read, it is not always the male that tosses. I saw my hen toss some of the hatchlings.
Also, contrary to what you may read, a deep nest will not prevent tossing. They call it tossing, but the parent will pick up the hatchling with its beak, and carry it out of the nest (including my nest which has a hallway) and take the hatchling to the far side of the cage where it is dropped/left.
I have also seen societies toss gouldian hatchlings.
Gary
gouldians (GB,YB,BB), blackbelly firefinches (trying to breed), societies (foster parents).
red factor canary
gouldians (GB,YB,BB), blackbelly firefinches (trying to breed), societies (foster parents).
red factor canary
- cindy
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Re: Chick Tossing
Also if the chicks are not right the parents will not feed them, the hen can pass bacteria to the egg which can effect the eggs, chick that pass shortly after hatching or chicks that slowly stop begging and pass.
When you find a chick tossed check the chick over...check the belly look for swelling, a black spot, look at the head if slightly enlarged with a whitish coloring it could be the sign of bacteria starting... Black spot is a liver bleed which is from bacteria or parasites passed to the young that hit the liver. Parent birds will not feed sick offspring.
When you find a chick tossed check the chick over...check the belly look for swelling, a black spot, look at the head if slightly enlarged with a whitish coloring it could be the sign of bacteria starting... Black spot is a liver bleed which is from bacteria or parasites passed to the young that hit the liver. Parent birds will not feed sick offspring.
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Re: Chick Tossing
Thanks for your replies.
The position on the nest is in the upper part of the cage. They are provided everyday with millet, egg food, seed mix, egg shell, and some vegetable food.
Gary I monitored the birds and the cock was the culprit of tossing the birds. Every time I put the chick in nest is in vain as he throws them all out. Funnily enough saw the cock feeding the chicks outside the nest box . He is also preparing the nest for another clutch by putting in the nest stuff he finds in cage. Do you think I shall remove the nest box and give them some time before retrying to breed?
The position on the nest is in the upper part of the cage. They are provided everyday with millet, egg food, seed mix, egg shell, and some vegetable food.
Gary I monitored the birds and the cock was the culprit of tossing the birds. Every time I put the chick in nest is in vain as he throws them all out. Funnily enough saw the cock feeding the chicks outside the nest box . He is also preparing the nest for another clutch by putting in the nest stuff he finds in cage. Do you think I shall remove the nest box and give them some time before retrying to breed?
- Babs _Owner
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Re: Chick Tossing
mizzi
Yes he is trying to get her back into breeding mode to get some more "action". Eliminating the young is sometimes part of that process. He may be young and over eager to mate again.
But ponder this, I have a pair that needs a secluded nest (privacy)
and yet another pair (hence the female's demands) cannot stand to have the room blocked off with foliage. Brat (my female)
doesnt breed unless she can see the entire room.
You really have to watch your birds. Let them tell you what they want.
Yes he is trying to get her back into breeding mode to get some more "action". Eliminating the young is sometimes part of that process. He may be young and over eager to mate again.
But ponder this, I have a pair that needs a secluded nest (privacy)
and yet another pair (hence the female's demands) cannot stand to have the room blocked off with foliage. Brat (my female)
doesnt breed unless she can see the entire room.
You really have to watch your birds. Let them tell you what they want.
- cindy
- Bird Brain
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- Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:33 pm
- Location: west central Florida
Re: Chick Tossing
once they pick a nest and settle in remove all extra nesting materialmizzi wrote: Thanks for your replies.
The position on the nest is in the upper part of the cage. They are provided everyday with millet, egg food, seed mix, egg shell, and some vegetable food.
Gary I monitored the birds and the cock was the culprit of tossing the birds. Every time I put the chick in nest is in vain as he throws them all out. Funnily enough saw the cock feeding the chicks outside the nest box . He is also preparing the nest for another clutch by putting in the nest stuff he finds in cage. Do you think I shall remove the nest box and give them some time before retrying to breed?
I mentioned also that the birds will not feed ill young, they can tell by the the sound of the begging, if it is off they will ignore or remove them.
Zebra, Gouldians, Java, CBM Shaft tail & Grasskeets
~ My Facebook groups ~
*Finchaholics ~ finches, hookbills, softbills & canaries are welcome here!
discussions regarding species, housing, breeding, preventatives, treatments
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