Cock bird raising young alone

[Wirla]

Hi question for the experts
Woke up this morning and found my blue hen bird had passed away for no apparent reason all other birds still alive
Hen has been sitting on eggs which are due to hatch this weekend
Cock split currently sitting on eggs

What's the chance of cock bird hatching and raising young alone??

All other gouldians young cluthes are two weeks old so can not put eggs under any other hen

[garyh]

Hi Wirla,i think your chances of the cock bird hatching the young are zero ,cock birds don't sit on the eggs at night so the eggs will go cold and embryo will die,you may see him on the eggs during the day but that to will cease when he realizes the hen is gone,hope this helps ,garyh

[finchbreeder]

Have you got any birds you can put the eggs under? Gouldians are obviously best, but as you do not have any. But the young would then need to be put in an avairy/cage with the other slightly older juvenile Gouldians to make sure they know they are Gouldians. This also allows you to remove all the young Gouldians so the parents can get on with the next batch/s.
LML

[Wirla]

Thanks for you replies.

Just an update. Decided to clear the nest out Sunday arvo due to the feedback and as cock was still sitting during the day and two nights of not sitting.
Upon clearing found 3 healthy live chicks which would of hatched Saturday as predicted even though no one was sitting at nights. Crops were full. So Cock bird was doing a good job raising them. Due to disturbing the nest cock bird would not return to nest (As I don't not normally do nest checks). Is it possible due to the warm weather lately the chicks happen to survive those nights.

[Tiaris]

Yes. If they've survived the 1st couple of days, they should be fine provided you don't get a cool change. If there are 3 or more young they will benefit from each others' body warmth through the night & will have a greater chance of survival.