Aussie Finch Forum

Hi

I am used to Gouldians tossing young babies occasionally, but over the last 3 weeks I've found four large babies dead on the ground in the morning. They had feathering on their wings and were a good size for their age. They also had small injuries all over them - spots of bloodied skin, like they had been pecked aggressively.

This is something I have never seen before. What do you make of it?

Ta

I'm not sure but probably pecked after they died and were tossed. We've had really cold nights (frosts) here so I presume cold at your place too, so might just be the cold weather.

Iv witnessed hens wanting to take over a nest occupied by another pair of gouldians for breeding and the hen attacks/grabs the babies in the nest, have you noticed a hen annoying the breeding pair of these babies? or has a pair settled into the nest box?

misso

the issue of older babies perishing is the reason why I have now insulated my avairies to stop them from freezing once the hen stops sitting at night. However your issue seems to be related to the young being attacked. Do you have sufficient spare nest boxes....are any spare pairs showing interest in the box the young were in.

As for the young being pecked after they have died I don't think this is the case. No dead creature bleeds.

cheers
Paul

I haven't noticed any others vying for that nest, but it is possible. This seems to happen either near dusk or at dawn, because I never witness the tossing and the babies are dead by the time I go up there at around 9am. They look very well fed but their crops are not necessarily full when I find them.

Sometimes the dominant cock will be toppled by another cock who then feels the need to take the best nest. And bad luck if it is occupied. Bad luck for the young that is. Have wittnessed this happening in broad daylight in Mum's avairys. Yep that pest cock was moved to a different avairy then later sold. Great fertility but bad manners.
LML