Winter babies!....Gouldians!

[Gouldie]

My white chested pair of Gouldians are sitting on 10 eggs!!!! is this too many!!! especially for winter?.....
The female is spending more time sitting than the male.....and it's winter here!!.....
Should be interesting to see the winter hatchlings!.....


Gouldie

[expressmailtome]

Ten eggs seems to be a lot. Are you sure that do have a male and a female and not two females?

Matt

[christie99]

I agree, 10 eggs is a lot. Have you candled the eggs? Sometimes a hen that is not bonded to the male will lay a lot of infertile eggs. I have a hen that did this because she did not like her cagemate.

[Gouldie]

Originally Posted by expressmailtome

Ten eggs seems to be a lot. Are you sure that do have a male and a female and not two females?

Matt

Thanks Matt, yes, I'm 100% sure that they are male and female. This is the first time to breed for the female, the male bird is older! She seems to be 'fussing' more over the eggs, and he is very quiet!....I'll keep a close eye on them......Thanks again...

Gouldie

[Gouldie]

Originally Posted by christie99

I agree, 10 eggs is a lot. Have you candled the eggs? Sometimes a hen that is not bonded to the male will lay a lot of infertile eggs. I have a hen that did this because she did not like her cagemate.

Thanks Christie99.....She had laid more and I took a few away! Plus another two they had broken!.....She 'seems' to like him, and keeps poking her head out of the nest making 'baby' sounds with an open beak...She comes out to eat and drink...it does look like she's doing all the work!....he's a lazy bird!
This is the first time I've had the white chested Gouldians! but they should be all the same, right?.......I'll keep watch over them.....

Thanks again,

Gouldie

[christie99]

Yes, the color mutation makes no difference. A lot of breeders frown on breeding two white chested birds together because it isn't the strongest of mutations. Most will breed a white breasted to a split to white.

After 5 days of incubation, you can use a small pen lite and candle the eggs, just be quick about it because it can get too hot pretty fast.

If the eggs are fertile, I would have some surrogate parents on hand, 10 is a lot of mouths to feed.

[expressmailtome]

Sorry if my question came across rude. I just thought that I should ask. If she is laying that many eggs make sure that she is having enough calcium. Egg food is a really good source.

Matt

[Gouldie]

Originally Posted by expressmailtome

Sorry if my question came across rude. I just thought that I should ask. If she is laying that many eggs make sure that she is having enough calcium. Egg food is a really good source.

Matt

Not at all rude Matt, I need all the good advice I can get.
These little birdies are not cheap 'excuse' the pun...lol.... Gouldians can be very difficult to tell apart at the best of times!.....
Today 'polly' looks a lot more 'settled' and is busy eating lots...I purchased a special Ultra Blend formula food especially for them...it has lots of extra minerals and vitamins added..I'll keep up the egg food too....They both look fit and healthy (except for Petey's scruffy head feathers).....I have the breeding cage in a very warm position out of any draughts with plenty of sunshine........

Here's a pic of Polly & Petey today...



And the nest full of eggs....



Thanks again for all your help.....I'll keep you up-to-date on the progress,

Gouldie

[expressmailtome]

They are beautiful! Best of luck with the eggs hatching!

Matt

[Gouldie]

Originally Posted by christie99

Yes, the color mutation makes no difference. A lot of breeders frown on breeding two white chested birds together because it isn't the strongest of mutations. Most will breed a white breasted to a split to white.

After 5 days of incubation, you can use a small pen lite and candle the eggs, just be quick about it because it can get too hot pretty fast.

If the eggs are fertile, I would have some surrogate parents on hand, 10 is a lot of mouths to feed.

Thanks Christie99, I'm learning something new every day!......

I'll try the pen lite and look for the viable eggs, she hasn't laid any more, thank goodness!
The only surrogate parents I have on hand are Zebras....one pair have eggs in the nest at the moment! I could sneak a couple in!.... I'd rather use my Bengalese, but they are not nesting......

Thanks so much for the info.....I really do appreciate it......

Gouldie