Painteds did it again

[Jayburd]

The painteds have thrown chicks again.
It's is their second clutch, and in a new nest. No disturbance, the nest faces away from the entrance, and I've kept well away. And yet, this afternoon three chicks out, two on the floor of the flight and one in the main feed station. The fact they're so far from the nest means they can only have been carried there (not to mention the feed station being off the ground).
The chicks seem fine, if a little skinny. Empty crops though, only about a week old, no feathers coming through and eyes closed.
I think there may be one wriggler left in the nest, but with today and last nest I have to say I expect to find it tomorrow.
What could be going wrong? They're getting all the right dietary stuff, no disturbance from me, don't think it's the other birds.... Anyone???

[SamDavis]

I've never had painteds throw chicks so I'd strongly suspect some other bird is the culprit. What other suspects are in the aviary?

[Brooksy]

I agree with SamDavis. Painters are usually not all that protective of their nest and young. The same thing was happening to me time after time, chicks being carried away at all ages and nests being mest up, VERY FRUSTRATING! Until I caught the culprit. Happy hunting

[mattymeischke]

Sorry, Jay, devastating stuff...

Brooksy, don't keep us hanging: who was the culprit in your case?

[djb78]

Jay I have found it rare for me to find a dead painted on the floor mine usually just leave and build a new nest. As the others have suggested it just may be another finch wanting to take over the nest.

[Myzomela]

The only other cause I can think of is that some birds bred on termites will throw out their young if they do not have termites on which to rear their young.
It's a bit of a longshot with a species such as painteds, but do you know what the breeder you bought them from was feeding?

[mattymeischke]

Correct me if I'm wrong, Jay, but was she from that bunch of birds from Sam Davis and I?
In which case she would have had termites in either case, but I suppose it's immaterial as you are no doubt feeding them fromites (frozen termites).....

By the way, after you left yesterday I hit another mound and struck gold! Lots of fat white ones, dense enough to freeze without extracting; I almost felt guilty.

[Jayburd]

Thanks guys,
The other species are the ones in my signature minus long tails (they're confined elsewhere). Bu the jacarinis and RFPF already have nests, so that's them out. The ones I think most likely would be cordons or saint Helenas, but neither have shown much interest in breeding (the saints went in and out of a nest for a few days, haven't seen them doing it lately).
The male was bred on termites, and the female was bred on maggots. Either way, they're getting plenty of termites now.
Matt, this is the hen from E Orix, so maggots/mealworms.
I don't know my freezer could hold much more!!!! Besides, the lot we got was good

[Jayburd]

Just been out, yes 4th chick dead in the same spot.

[vettepilot_6]

How big is Aviary? and how many birds in with them total? I would think stress or overcrowding could be your problem?