Disturbing nests
Posted: 27 Feb 2023, 06:18
Okay, we just finished our family meeting and we have a few questions, if you all would be so kind to help us with them. We had all searched for these answers before but are stumped:
1. We've read only let finches breed twice a year because three is too stressful. Does that mean to point of fledging, to just point of live babies or does that mean a clutch of eggs? We've had a pair have two clutches - which only survived through hatching but they never fed them. Can we let them try a third time? They are first year parents.
2. When a clutch fails, should we remove the unhatched eggs and/or dead babies (if so how long do we wait) or should we let nature (and the parents) take care of things?
3. Some websites say to candle the eggs but we also read not to mess with the nests. The dichotomy of information is quite frustrating although we realize that's part of life.
We have read that first year Gouldians only have 12% chance of success which goes up to 70% in subsequent years. We've also read that some finches simply aren't good parents and Gouldians can be harder to breed. I'm at a point of wanting to ignore if they have anything in the nest and only care if I see babies stick their heads out!
1. We've read only let finches breed twice a year because three is too stressful. Does that mean to point of fledging, to just point of live babies or does that mean a clutch of eggs? We've had a pair have two clutches - which only survived through hatching but they never fed them. Can we let them try a third time? They are first year parents.
2. When a clutch fails, should we remove the unhatched eggs and/or dead babies (if so how long do we wait) or should we let nature (and the parents) take care of things?
3. Some websites say to candle the eggs but we also read not to mess with the nests. The dichotomy of information is quite frustrating although we realize that's part of life.
We have read that first year Gouldians only have 12% chance of success which goes up to 70% in subsequent years. We've also read that some finches simply aren't good parents and Gouldians can be harder to breed. I'm at a point of wanting to ignore if they have anything in the nest and only care if I see babies stick their heads out!