Aussie Finch Forum

I have kept goulds for awhile now but ive never had three separate nests thriw young out in on hit. I found 3 week old chicks on the floor today and a day old in a food dish at the opposite side of the aviary seemingly ok. I found one that had ants on it looked like 2 days on the floor.



What should I do now? What could cause this?

I habe young zebs in with them and a scarlet parrot pair plus yelliw siskins and a pair of goldfinches.

I think one of my larger more buffed up zeb males may be to blame. there are plenty of nest boxes and brush som im confused. All nests impacted are at different areas in the 4 by 3 aviary.

See how its goes I guess....They have all been returned to the nest but im concerned they will get tossed again.

Could be the zedra's pulling them out. Ive had javas do the same thing hear noises in the boxes and yank out the chicks.

Years ago my wife had a kookaburra (WIRES volunteer) in a cage and the gouldians throw all their young on the floor - a past bird keeper suggested that the gouldians where sacrificing their young because of the threat. This is the only time this has happened - so do you have any resident kookaburras in your area?

Have you checked out the Boxes and the nest to see if there is something more sinister, such as mites.

I removed the zebs as young were getting tossed still.

I noticed something odd. Both the hen and the cock have been hiding in the nest box Which is odd fir parents if 2 week old chicks.

I've had one nest also throw all of its young out as well.

elferoz777 wrote:I removed the zebs as young were getting tossed still.

I noticed something odd. Both the hen and the cock have been hiding in the nest box Which is odd fir parents if 2 week old chicks.

Sounds like something frightening them?

why not go back and do what you did last year it worked for you take out the other birds.

ColouredFeathers wrote:why not go back and do what you did last year it worked for you take out the other birds.

That would be run 15 pair in one aviary with siskins and ruddies. Maybe my goldfinches are to blame.

There is no sign of mites or mice. I have split them up today. The young blue has an eye issue so he will be written off soon.

Imo,i do not recommend breeding blue gouldians in any mixed collection,they should be bred on their own and not with their own kind.How do you know two blues aren't breeding together if you have more than one pr.
I also believe that siskins,goldfinches and all that genis don't go well with gouldians as they are too aggressive to other finches. Craig