Loss of Gouldian chicks

[SamDavis]

Unfortunately I found a dead gouldian chick on the aviary floor this morning so decided to check the nest. Another dead chick and two eggs cracked open with fully formed dead chicks. All at the front of the nest box so it seems the parents were in the process of ejecting them from the nest as they'd perished. The older chicks were well fed and about 9-10 days old - normal age when parents stop brooding. This pair have fledged 2 nests of 4 and 5 chicks this year during much colder weather than we've had lately.

Despite the relatively warmer weather I suspect lack of brooding, hence cold due to there only being 2 chicks in the nest. However, the dead in shell chicks make me wonder if something more sinister is going on?

[BENSONSAN]

Sam i dunno but this year has been pretty crappy for my gouldians and i to have had similiar things to you. One pair fledged 4 young in a cabinet. i moved the young ones out a they laid two more times a eggs never hatched! Its been a weird year for them with me a very inconsistent. Im putting it down to bad weather also. Another pair fledged two young a both young died in avairy about 3 weeks after.

Not used to this kinda thing happening but i guess it was just way to wet a cold. Also i doubht the baycox or anything was any good for the young ones to help them thru these times.

[SamDavis]

Maybe if everyones having a poor season we might see the price of normals go up to a more reasonable level - just trying to look for a positive! I've seen gouldians sold for $10 each, which really is ridiculous.

[Simba]

If the parents have already raised 2 rounds this year and during colder weather then maybe they have just got tired, I would suggest resting them and limiting them to 2 rounds per season.