Aussie Finch Forum

Hi all, I've been keeping and breeding Blue Gouldians for about 4 years now. It's only through this season I've had very low to zero hatchings from Blue to Split pairings. Nests of good numbers of eggs laid, all clear in shell after 14 days of continuous incubation from both parents.

Now I have a few pairs of Split Blue to Split Blue pairs who are onto their second nests for this season with 5 young each again. They were left over young from last season that didn't find new homes so I Let them do their thing in their own Aviary.

I'm trying to figure out what is causing this infertility issue. Is it that they have already aged too much and are no longer fertile?
Is the continued use of supplements making them sterile?
Have I got a serious infectious disease that has made its way into some of my birds affecting fertility (ornithosis)?

They all get the same diet, have all been wormed etc
I've never experienced this throughout decades of breeding Normals, Euro Yellows or any other species

Any other Breeders of Blue Gould's experience similar?

Hi, blue gouldians have a vitamin A and E deficiency but not in split blues and they produce relatively high fertility.
Some blue gouldian breeders I know feed an A and E supplement available from Allfarm stock foods in Victoria, they also sell soluminavit which is vital to keep blue gouldians alive from birth to adulthood and beyond.
One person disagrees with what I just said but here on East Coast it vital for blue gouldians.
Vitamin E is vital for fertility in blue gouldians. Hope this helps you. Cheers

Craig52 wrote: Today, 12:24 Hi, blue gouldians have a vitamin A and E deficiency but not in split blues and they produce relatively high fertility.
Some blue gouldian breeders I know feed an A and E supplement available from Allfarm stock foods in Victoria, they also sell soluminavit which is vital to keep blue gouldians alive from birth to adulthood and beyond.
One person disagrees with what I just said but here on East Coast it vital for blue gouldians.
Vitamin E is vital for fertility in blue gouldians. Hope this helps you. Cheers

Thanks Craig, fortunately for me I was told about the Blues deficiency or inability to process Vitamin A and E when I got my first pairs from the breeder. I give soaked seed, soaked in Solaminovit every second day. Aswell as green panic, sprouted seed, a range of Naturally for Birds supplements, cuttlebone and egg shells and my own mix of dry seeds. Fresh water daily.

The issue has only come about this season with only 2 young coming from 3 pairs. With each pair laying and incubating 2 nests each now. Last season one of the pairs did well the other 2 low numbers of hatchings but atill had at least 2 young each nest. They aren't old either, this being their 3rd year coloured up.

To me they look a little off, feathers a little ruffled. A couple have red rings or eyelids. One of the Cock birds seems to shake his tail when pooping. He seems ok though. They Fly around ok not too lethargic, but hardly hear them calling out or cock birds trilling their mating call. Definitely not sitting fluffed up and head tucked.
I have lost a couple of Blue birds and a split in the last 3 months. I also lost a young Blue about 3 months old the other day, which seemed to have a secretion coming from its eyes and very thin in the breast. Also had a dirty vent and yellowish tinge to its very watery droppings. I gave it some Tripple C and took it to an Avian vet. They conducted a faecal sample with no positive result for any infection. Some Baytril was prescribed. It perked up a bit then passed away a day later. Not sure if it was the Tripple C or the Baytril that helped.

After some research and reading, I came across a topic by Dr. Rob Marshall on Ornithosis, and one of the symptoms is very poor or infertility. I mentioned this to the vet when I visited and they seemed to have a negative opinion about the drug Doxycycline when mentioned.

And the other reason someone told me that feeding Solaminovit could be causing infertility after years of continued use and only get 3 or so good seasons from them.
Not sure if anyone has found similar.
Ny Normals seem to breed well into their 5th year.

I don't know. I'm a bit lost with this and is wearing thin on me. When you put alot of effort in and very little to no result.

Are they in an outside aviary if so does it get wet they could effectively get coccidious. I've never used baytril but I have baycox with good results over 3 days made fresh every day.
You can over dose on vitamins and their droppings become yellow/orange. I've never soaked seed in soluminavit and that could soak up too much, just a very light dusting before I fed it out as I used the power form but you could use a diluted form in mist spayer for liquid.
Hope you get on top it soon. Cheers