Aussie Finch Forum

For about 6 months the only Gouldians in my aviary were two young hens - sisters. They hung out together but without obvious bonding.

Then, finally, I introduced a new group of Gouldians including several cocks. I had expected the two hens to get very excited by this and they did, but not in the expected way. They immediately started nesting, but with each other rather than with the cocks. They have been sitting on eggs for several weeks now, sharing incubation duties in one nest.

Somewhat after the fact, I can see their beaks now starting to darken, suggesting the early stages of breeding condition. But the nesting behaviour began long before any sign of this, within three days of the cock birds joining the aviary.

What do you make of this? I was hoping to breed from these two hens as they are tough as old boots - realy sturdy stock from great parents - but I'm not sure that I can get them interested in boys now!

(I also have a homosexual pair of Zebra boys, also siblings, who bonded tightly despite the presence of Zebra hens.)

There's been some discussion about same-sex pair bonding just recently. I think it was under Pytilias. Let me see if I can find it back...

... *hold music plays* ...

Found it! It was under Red Faced Parrot Finch in the Foreign Finches section:
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If you are able to, split them up and put each hen in with a single cock it might get their minds on the right way to nest!

Today I can hear little cheeps in the nest. The pair of sister hens are clearly feeding babies! I have no idea who the dad is though. None of the males went into the nest or showed any special interest in the hens.

This is very unusual!

This is so consistent with today's modern family. Not only are they doin their own thing but they seem to have organised a "donor" friend to help them with their desire to have a family. Not sure about the "sisters" incestuous side of this tawdry arrangement though. Keep us posted as to how it all pans out and if the chicks have any "issues" that need early intervention.

Friends with benefits

I luv your comment Tintola....definately put a smile on my face...totally agree with your commets....fantastic

I have a similar, but different story.....as an experiment I thought I'd put 3 hens in with 2 cocks.......the main thought was to allow the one Blue cock in the avairy to be mated up with any of the hens in the avairy.....well one pair went to nest very quickly (Blue x YB)....but I didn't notice the cock doing much of the sitting duties (maybe he was doing his share whilst I was at work....but minimal in mornings and evenings that i observed)....then the second pair went to nest...(pair of BH normals).....so I thought I'd leave the spair hen (BH normal) in for a few days until i was absolutely sure which BH normal had gone to nest....I was 95% sure (based on ring color but I wanted to be 100% sure)......then to my surprise the Blue cock has now been mating with the spare hen and seems to be ignoring the original YB hen. The YB hen seems to still be sitting....I will check the eggs on the weekend to make sure they are developing well.....but when i checked within the first week they seemed fertile.

Although this wasn't my plan the Blue cock has 2 nests going and the pair of BH normals all seem happy.....maybe it will all blow up in my face if/when the chicks hatch and the single mother (YB Hen) does not cope on her own....but I've just decided to allow nature to take it's course and leave the 5 birds to work out what happens.....Tino would be proud of the Blue cock...it was one of his 2011 young.

cheers,
Paul

Girls have gotta do what they've gotta do these days...

I think I've found the most likely dad. Spotting one hen freshly out of the bath and too wet to fly, and being the gentleman that he obviously isn't, he jumped her! Fine example for the kids.

Well my experiment failed....the single mum (YB Hen) did a great job up until the chicks hatched....then it was all too much for her and the nest was abandoned....so now I have put another cock in to even out the numbers to 3 pairs.

The original Blue is now building a nest with a BH hen....and hopefully the abandoned YB Hen pairs up with the additional cock I put into the avairy....lesson learnt....no spare hens ever again!!!

Cheers,
Paul

No chance of hand feeding the young?