More dead babies

05 Jun 2011, 23:21

Hi Deb lots of good advice from everyone. It's heartbreaking when this happens and you don't know what the problem is. Note that these are your first finches. The more info you can give the more some of the experienced breeders can help you. eg how long have you had them and have they been wormed? how old were the babies?, what have you been feeding them on? Any rodents which may be disturbing sitting parents and letting babies get cold?

nathan morley · 06 Jun 2011, 06:00

Im so sorry for you're loss I breed gouldians an I think the probley Is the diet you must not be feeding them the right diet couse if u don't feed them the right diet the perents will throw the chicks out of the nest.
Nathan

06 Jun 2011, 14:26

nathan morley wrote:Im so sorry for you're loss I breed gouldians an I think the probley Is the diet you must not be feeding them the right diet couse if u don't feed them the right diet the perents will throw the chicks out of the nest.
Nathan

whats the right diet Nathan?

my gouldians will raise clutches on just seed alone in some instances, so you cant just say its because of diet that they were getting thrown. my gouldians may go a week without greens and still feed the babies whats available.

nathan morley · 06 Jun 2011, 16:52

Yeah I know but food shotage = chicks thrown out of nest

06 Jun 2011, 17:51

Hi Deb
Are the chicks dead or alive when they are thrown from the nest?, if there dead maybe the spare hens are going into the nest attacking the young, what are you feeding your finches?, i would remove your spare hens as sometimes this can cause problems, an long time finch breeder told be the only finches you should keep with zebs is Zebs. hope this helps
Shirltra

06 Jun 2011, 20:04

nathan morley wrote:Yeah I know but food shotage = chicks thrown out of nest

nathan i just had gouldians fledge 3 young from a nest on the floor in my holding aviary with nothing but dry seed to feed them on, i don't think feed would be an issue.
i would say that sadly it is just inexperienced and young gouldians. i have had young painteds and even redbrows who have done the same thing, my diamonds took 8 nests before they successfully fledged any!! this is with a full and varied diet, and more than enough room. it is always sad, but i would keep them together and just keep an eye on them. sometimes a young bird just isn't quite ready for parenthood and freaks out i think!

25 Jun 2011, 14:38

Thanks again for all the advise, I have had my finches since February and they have all been wormed. I feed them with seed, lettuce and spinach leaves. I also crush up egg shells for them twice a week. The babies I have found apart from 3 have all been dead on the floor. I sat and watched the aviary for a day on and off and found that it was the parents that were pulling the babies out. They were only a few days old. It is now June and 1 set are on the nest again. This time I'm not looking. I will let nature take it's course. I thought maybe I peeked too many times before and upset them. They are on the verandah on the northside so get plenty of sun and I cover them up every night. I don't think mice could get through the wire mesh as it is really small. I have cats and dogs but the finches don't seem too worried about them. The cats were intersted to start with but can't be bothered now. I still have the one baby who is doing well, I can see it will be a male as he is getting his colour. So out of all the sadness, one little bit of rainbow, well he will be by the time he gets all his colour. Thanks again for all your helpful advise.............Cheers Deb