Aussie Finch Forum

I don't believe that another bird specie threw them out,i would say the parents removed them after finding them dead.Most gouldians cease to cover them at night after 10 days or so.One of those young has a few white millet seeds in its crop,the other hasn't so a cool night night on their own would soon kill them imo Craig

Hi Craig,

I agree with some of your points....that the parents probably tossed them out after finding them dead and that the other avairy inhabitants most likely are not guilty of "murder".

However the comment about them perishing because of a cold night really shouldn't be a factor at this time of the year. I know it was colder the last few nights than a few weeks ago, but Andrew indicated there were 4 young in the nest and with the temp being around 15 over night it shouldn't have caused too many problems. In the past when i have found my young gould's dead from cold temp I usually found them with a full crop from the previous night's feed telling me they perished solely because of the cold temp.

With the hot weather over the past week I had 2 nests whereby the hen has stopped sitting on the young @ nite when they were 5 days old because it was too hot in the box. Since the temp has dropped these 2 hens did not recommence sitting at night and the young have been fine (1 nest of 5 and the other of 2) .

IMO Andrew might need to look at their diet...increase the sprouted/green seed.

Cheers
Paul

Or maybe there was way too many nest inspections and they deserted ? .....

gouldianpaul wrote:Hi Craig,

I agree with some of your points....that the parents probably tossed them out after finding them dead and that the other avairy inhabitants most likely are not guilty of "murder".

However the comment about them perishing because of a cold night really shouldn't be a factor at this time of the year. In the past when i have found my young gould's dead from cold temp I usually found them with a full crop from the previous night's feed telling me they perished solely because of the cold temp.

IMO Andrew might need to look at their diet...increase the sprouted/green seed.

Cheers
Paul

G'day Paul, I totally agree except for the full crops,those young had little if anything in their crops,so they could have starved to death,i also agree with your last comment.
Are these birds first year breeders?some first year breeders stuff around for the first nest or two before they actually bring young out on the perch,so time will tell.Cheers Craig

They where in the aviary with my:

- A Scarlet chested parrot
- A double bar
- A Chestnut
- A RFP &
- A pair of stars

- Never did any nest inspections
- There was plenty of the correct food given
- It was not cold enough for them to die over night
- And yes they are first year parents (Which where doing a great job for the first time). I thought...

I think the babies must have been thrown out during the night or early morning.. As I heard them yesterday before dark.

If only I had a little camera set up in the aviary to see what happened..

But it's time to move on and try again now. Just one of those things you learn as a 1st time attempt to breed goulds.

Cheers,
AB

But it's time to move on and try again now. Just one of those things you learn as a 1st time attempt to breed goulds.

Cheers,
AB[/quote]

Well said Andrew,there's no sence dwelling on it,all the best for the next nest. Cheers Craig

HI Andrew,

I agree with Craig....first time parents can cause you grief....they will hopefully get better at it

Just remember Gouldians do 2 things very well.....breed like mice or break your heart

Cheers
Paul

It's so disappointing when things like this happen, especially when you never really know the reason. Hope you have better luck next time.

I just had three gouldians about the same age die in the nest. They looked very similar to yours with some feed in their crops.They were not thin nor sickly. We have had a couple of cold rainy nights. My best guess is the cold was the problem with mine. I noticed the parents acting differently around the nest and did not hear them being fed. When I checked they were dead in the nest.

Unpredictable sods. 1st nest, 3 young out and flying. 2nd nest dead, ants in nest. Don't know which came 1st. 3rd nest nothing hatched but still possible that half the eggs are good. Thats the way it goes.
LML