Aussie Finch Forum

I have a hen sitting on 9 eggs. It is in a flight that had, until today, 3 cocks and 4 hens (because I thought maybe the oldest hen might be past it). Two of the other hens have also been down a week or so, so today I removed the "spare" hen (which isn't the old duck, she's sitting on two eggs).

Are all 9 likely to belong to the bird sitting on them? Is it possible 2 hens have laid in the same box (even though I have never seen the spare hen near a box)? Has anoin else had a Gouldian clutch of that size?

The box has had no nest building work, the only grass in there is what I put in to start them off. The eggs at just sitting on floor with a few tufts around them.

The only other birds in the flight were a DNA sexed male redbrow and a female painted.

I've had 9 in a Gouldian clutch a couple of years ago. They reared 7 of them. Only had that many once but had a few 8s & heaps of 6s & 7s. Have 7pr sitting at the moment with 5x 6s & 2 x 7s & no clear eggs. No wonder the hens crave the calcium sources so much during the breeding season.

I had big cluthes last year with the Blues. And also have big clutches already with Blue hens sitting on 8s and a 10.
Last year Normals from Tiaris had large clutches and also already 1pair on 8.
You may have a nice pair that are working well then.

G,day Graham,have had several large clutches over the years,my biggest being 13 from a pair on their own,all 13 hatched but only 8 fledged,garyh.

Hi Natamambo
Yes, it is possible that two hens lay eggs in the same Box, in that past I had Blackheads rearing Redheads, Yellow heads rearing Black and Read heads all in one clutch, so yes it it quiet possible that you have a Coockoo Hen in your Aviary, the Head Colour of this particular Nest will confirm this, unless all you Birds are of the same Head Colour, then you will never know the true Parents of these youngsters.