Aussie Finch Forum

Quick question on gouldian fertility.

I have had 3 nests hatch young in the last week.
Each nest had 5-7 eggs but only 1-2 young. The remaining eggs just don't hatch. I think there is more to it than just a dud bunch of cock birds.

Is there anything else that could be contributing to the low number of young hatched?

They are fed egg shell, cuttlefish, chicory, and kale daily so diet shouldn't be an issue.

Any ideas?

I think it has to do with being the first nest of the season and both birds not being 100% ready to breed.

Cheers Ian

Three issues come to mind when low fertility rates occur.
Where the hens in breeding condition before the cock bird for example?
Aggression amongst the birds in the aviary stop them or interrupt the birds copulating effectively?
Competition for the available nests boxes will see the birds expend a lot of energy and time in defending or chasing others away.

and

The birds that copulate on perches it is important to check the type of perches they have in the aviary and how are these attached/secured to the aviary. I recently had a conversation with a cabinet breeder of budgies who was having this same type of issue. He mentioned that the situation was rectified back to 'normal' when he changed the size, shape and placement of the perches in the cabinets.

Thanks for the advice.

I think it maybe cock birds not ready as there are plenty of boxes and perch wise I use brush everywhere.

The hens are ready as they that steely black beak.

I am planning on thinning them out again. After the young fledge I am going to move sone pairs to other aviaries. See if this helps.