Gouldian Eggs

[spoton]

Hi guys,

Just a couple of queries from a newbie - 1) How long on average does it take for gouldian eggs to go from clear to dark if they are fertile?? and 2) If the eggs do not darken, do you remove them from the nest so the breeding pair can start again?? 3) if you remove the eggs, do you leave the nest as is or remove it as well???

Thanks for the advice in advance

Darryl

[Pete Sara]

welcome....well its about three weeks for incubation so they should go darker if fertile as the embryo evolves....you could remove them if you think they are not being incubated and are still clear after a few weeks, you can leave the nest in there if you want them to breed again as it wont do any harm.....as they will nest again when ready.... also on another note if they are young birds sometimes the first few clutches can be unsucessfull...pete

[mackstaa]

As Poit said..but If I may add, within 5 or so days from incubating you should see the red veins when a torch is held against them. Without handling the eggs with your fingers mind you. If you see only 1 or 2 dark ones you think are fertile always leave a few more eggs in the nest as taking too many away can lead to abandoning the nest

[matcho]

As Poit said..but If I may add, within 5 or so days from incubating you should see the red veins when a torch is held against them. Without handling the eggs with your fingers mind you. If you see only 1 or 2 dark ones you think are fertile always leave a few more eggs in the nest as taking too many away can lead to abandoning the nest

I think that happened to me today. 6 weeks since I have been in the avairies. Went in to clear another Painteds nest with dead chicks. Had a look in one of the gouldian nest boxes and there were 12 eggs. Started to pull them out but noticed they were all warm. Some were clear and rolled around like the old mexican jumping beans. Some were dark and one broke......Oh NOOOO!.... chick in egg. Placed the 4 dark and heavy eggs back in the box. It just got worse. Moved through to the next avairy. Got rid of the dead painteds nest and decided to check the boxes. Another one with 10 eggs which the hen flew out of. 5 dark, the others clear. Didn't touch them. When going back through the walk ins a couple of stars made it through. In the end had to open my breeding flights/cages to make them all one. The other painteds that had been sitting for nearly two weeks decided that it was time to vacate and in the space of two hours were building a new nest next door. The Stars who had been doing nothing now decide to display etc. The nest that I took the eggs from has had little attention but thank god the other one ( 10 eggs) is still being incubated. I am just having a terrible time at the moment. Previously I had a little s...t pot aluminium avairy and bred heap of goulds (30 from three pairs), stars and painted. I have since built the Hilton and have only three gould chicks from 6 pairs. AAAAAHHHHH. But I suppose if it was meant to be easy it wouldn't be as much fun/challenge.

[finchbreeder]

I'm a wimp once they start sitting I just feed and water and treat. And don't touch the nests unless they I am not sure whats happening yet or have not confirmed incubation by observation.
LML

[spoton]

Thanks for the info everyone, have only looked into my RH's nest once and saw 5 eggs after a very annoyed male RH left the nest . He quickly returned once I moved away. Think maybe I will only check it once a week so as not to risk any disturbance. Would using a mirror like a dentist uses be less obtrusive than actaully opening up the nest box lid?? or would the reflection possibly be an issue for the nesting birds??

[matcho]

I have one I got from Super cheap Auto with a light on it and it doesnt disturb anything, it has an extendable handle as well. Only trouble is if the boxes are high it takes a bit of time to get the adjustment of the mirror right, but otherwise it is probaly better than fingers in the nest. $15 cost.