Aussie Finch Forum

could anyone please give me some advice why pytillias throw there young out that would have to be around one week old just starting to get feathers, this is with a pair of red face pytillias that have raised 4 young its always the same they place them in the seed bowls or where you can see them, they have plenty of maggots, and mealworms, the same with auroras, melbas, and red face pytillias, graham if you read this can you give me your thoughts or any breeders that could give me there thoughts. cheers mick

My short answer would be . . Whiteants

And would be a problem for city-dwellers

Have you thought about crickets?

arthur wrote: ↑27 Jan 2019, 14:23 My short answer would be . . Whiteants

And would be a problem for city-dwellers

Have you thought about crickets?

That and fingers in nest... or disturbances from other things..

Hi Mick,had the same problem with my Pytillias when I had them.They had 4 consecutive nest and tossed their young out at about 5 days old.
I was feeding maggots mealworms and crickets,tend to agree with Arthur...Termites.
Jack

Yep. They're just termite birds. All Pytilias & Bluecaps. You can jag the odd clutch of young occasionally with other livefoods but the little black bodies left right where you'll find them is the parents saying "Give me termites please" IMO. I've seen it even when I was feeding termites & not fed enough of them & occasionally found a carcass on the floor right at the doorway of the aviary where it will be seen straight away or some other prominent spot.

Even if you can get a small termite supply (live or frozen) & give at least some of these daily plus plenty of the other livefoods, you are far more likely to get consistent success with them without the dead nestlings or at least with less dead ones. If termites are simply not an option I recommend only obtaining breeding stock from someone who has reared some without termites & they are likely to have greater chance of success but still will give improved results when termites are fed.

Gday graham and jack I'm hearing you pal but its got to be more than that termites, a top breeder up near the gold coast that you know has the same problem and he gives them heaps, i gave vince a pair of red face pytillias the first nest 4 thrown out the next nest they raised 4 no problem next nest a 3 then a 4, on maggots, and mealworms, I'm feeding lots of maggots and small mealworms which i have always given all my birds with great results, but pytillias there different i suppose thats what makes them so challenging to breed as a species as they are my favourite finch. ill just keep on plugging away. cheers mick