Aussie Finch Forum

Hi all, as we're coming into the colder months of the year/breeding season, I read somewhere that when the hen stops sitting with chicks at night(Day 9 or 10 approx) that one breeder combats this by bringing the nest box/and chicks inside for the night, then returning them back to the aviary early the next morning, and so on until the chicks fledge the nest. This would potentially avoid discovering a nest full of dead chicks due to the cold. Has anyone attempted this before or does this on a regular basis?

Birds of a feather wrote:Hi all, as we're coming into the colder months of the year/breeding season, I read somewhere that when the hen stops sitting with chicks at night(Day 9 or 10 approx) that one breeder combats this by bringing the nest box/and chicks inside for the night, then returning them back to the aviary early the next morning, and so on until the chicks fledge the nest. This would potentially avoid discovering a nest full of dead chicks due to the cold. Has anyone attempted this before or does this on a regular basis?

not the best idea imho, disturbing breeding birds at night taking the boxes out is not a good idea, then having to get up early every single morning to put the nest boxes back in ( not for this little black duck ) i like my sleep ins lol.

i would be concentrating on insulating aviaries. and leaving the rest up to the birds, i like my birds hardy, i have no insulation in my aviaries or heating so i do lose the odd clutch here and their, im sure i wouldn't loose as much if i insulated my aviary walls.

misso

Hi
I use a heated nest box I make up for my Gouldian’s , This over comes the 10 day problem (only birds doing what they evolved to do in the tropics ) I set a thermostat to about 15c But after they fledge there on there own and it gets down to –6 here , rarely loose any due to cold . If I get time I’ll post how it’s made .

Hi
I use a heated nest box I make up for my Gouldian’s , This over comes the 10 day problem (only birds doing what they evolved to do in the tropics ) I set a thermostat to about 15c But after they fledge there on there own and it gets down to –6 here , rarely loose any due to cold . If I get time I’ll post how it’s made .

Hi west finch, thank you Im very interested.

not the best idea imho, disturbing breeding birds at night taking the boxes out is not a good idea, then having to get up early every single morning to put the nest boxes back in ( not for this little black duck ) i like my sleep ins lol.

i would be concentrating on insulating aviaries. and leaving the rest up to the birds, i like my birds hardy, i have no insulation in my aviaries or heating so i do lose the odd clutch here and their, im sure i wouldn't loose as much if i insulated my aviary walls.

misso

Hi Misso, I too like my birds hardy, but I need to get them to survive before they can become hardy. Without feathers, hardy or not birds will die. So insulating aviaries is the way to go. But doesn't that contradict the term hardy? You'd have to spend tens of years developing a genetic strain of Gouldian that can survive an uninsulated aviary setup, surely? Actually Ill rephrase that, You'd have to spend tens of years developing a genetic strain of Gouldian chicks that can survive an uninsulated aviary setup.. the adults do fine!

My avairy isn't insulated but has the added advantage of facing north, fully covered and backs onto a solid brick wall which absorbs the warmth and shelters from any southerly breezes. It is also fully enclosed during any inclement weather with perspex panels which let in sunlight and keep warmth in. Wasn't cheap to set up but does the job. Really works good in winter, you can feel the warmth when you go down in the morning to feed them. Loose very few birds even during the coldest time of the year which is normally the peak period for the goulds. Personally I hate getting in the avairy unless I really have to so replacing and removing nest boxes morning and afternoon to me would be a little overkill. If you want to do this I suggest you get a masters degree in handraising as you will need it.

Birds of a feather wrote:Hi all, as we're coming into the colder months of the year/breeding season, I read somewhere that when the hen stops sitting with chicks at night(Day 9 or 10 approx) that one breeder combats this by bringing the nest box/and chicks inside for the night, then returning them back to the aviary early the next morning, and so on until the chicks fledge the nest. This would potentially avoid discovering a nest full of dead chicks due to the cold. Has anyone attempted this before or does this on a regular basis?

That's what I do with my newly fledged, and from about 10 day old Wrens and never had any problems, I don't breed Gouldians so i can't say about Gouldians but yes heating light or heating pads for lizards is an option.

That's what I do with my newly fledged, and from about 10 day old Wrens and never had any problems, I don't breed Gouldians so i can't say about Gouldians but yes heating light or heating pads for lizards is an option

Thanks netsurfer, just the honest advice I was after. Thanks for sharing your success with this option, after all if we can eliminate unnecessary trauma why not?

Personally I hate getting in the avairy unless I really have to so replacing and removing nest boxes morning and afternoon to me would be a little overkill. If you want to do this I suggest you get a masters degree in handraising as you will need it.

No masters degree needed here mate I did what I said and with great results. No hand rearing required at this stage.

I use wood as insulation so the birds can't touch metal so this doesn't add heat or cool the aviery but allows a slower time before become hot or cold which I hope the birds can adjust to. I have heard of people using low wattage light placed under nest box which warms bottom or the heat pad. You say that you want a hardy breed of gouldian, sorry to say that all young are weaker when comes to temperature fluctuations, best bet would be to get young to fledge alive and become independent then when their adults let them acclimatise to the environment. With winter cold is one issue but the cold draft is the killer I would first look at blocking all drafts first and see how that goes.