I'll leave it as it is then
2nd clutch.. all infertile???
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colorin
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- Posts: 119
- Joined: 24 Oct 2010, 23:13
- Location: spain
well, good and bad news...
As one pair had all 5 eggs infertile and the other pair had all 7 eggs fertile, I decided to swap 2 eggs, so the first pair could take care of two chicks and the second pair would be left with just 5 of them and would have less mouths to feed..
Everything was fine. All 7 eggs hatched, but the 2 chicks that hatched in the first pair's nest I found tossed and dead
That pair has never ever tossed a chick, so I'm wondering whether it has been any of the already fledged siblings that still go into the nest every now and then (parents don't seem to care at all when they do)
Does it make any sense to you? This pair has been excellent both brooding and feeding their previous clutch...
As one pair had all 5 eggs infertile and the other pair had all 7 eggs fertile, I decided to swap 2 eggs, so the first pair could take care of two chicks and the second pair would be left with just 5 of them and would have less mouths to feed..
Everything was fine. All 7 eggs hatched, but the 2 chicks that hatched in the first pair's nest I found tossed and dead
That pair has never ever tossed a chick, so I'm wondering whether it has been any of the already fledged siblings that still go into the nest every now and then (parents don't seem to care at all when they do)
Does it make any sense to you? This pair has been excellent both brooding and feeding their previous clutch...
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colorin
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- Posts: 119
- Joined: 24 Oct 2010, 23:13
- Location: spain
I haven't remove them because I'm waiting for the other pair's clutch to fledge in a week time and then remove both nests, as I don't want them to go on breeding when moulting season starts. I'd rather let them rest before they molt
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desertbirds
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- Posts: 1318
- Joined: 21 Nov 2010, 09:13
- Location: Alice Springs
Sounds like a hive of activity.I`m not a hugely experienced breeder but what i`ve found is that if you interfere or not the results will often be the same and possibly better if you just let them be.If the eggs look fertile then they probably are and i`ve personally never bothered to candle eggs.Gouldians can rear large clutches and ive read up to 10 is possible.Fair chance yours would have been fine with 7.As soon as the young are feeding them selves i would be removing them but if the parents are going back down before this happens there isnt much you can do.At least you know they`re very keen and your on the right track.
