| Subject: |
|
fostering what is the truth? |
| Name: |
|
ron cloutier |
| Date Posted: |
|
Mar 7, 08 - 10:46 AM |
| Email: |
|
ask |
| Instant Messenger: |
|
 lgf_ca ( @) yah00.com |
| Website: |
|
http://www.ladygouldianfinch-ca.com/ |
| Message: |
|
I received an e-mail the other day that asked me why there was so much mis-information about fostering.
What is the reality behind it.
He asks
I have read that it is :
-a way to speed up the process of winnowing out bad genes.
-there is no difference between fostered and parent bred birds.
-fostering is needed for gouldians as they do not sit, are ptone to pitch, are overly excitable etc...
Here are the facts as I see them.
1 gouldians are bred way to young ( most after juvenile moult) when they are still not mature enough to know what nesting is or how to go about it.
2: gouldians are removed way too young from their parents. Gouldians need longer time then other birds for weaning. A gouldian chick can go quite light if weaned too early and can cause stress related complications, and even death.
3: gouldians pitch because many interfere too much with the cage/nest and do not leave the goulds to raise as they see fit without 101 interruptions.
Gouldians are not timid but they do need the privacy and as stated in the group lady gouldian finch on yahoo this includes cage cleaning.
DO Not Clean the cage while goulds are brooding eggs unless the birds have had at least 4 clutches in your aviary and trust you. This intrusion would not be tolerated by any bird, not just lady gouldians.
Do not Breed Birds that are Too Young; as you are setting yourself and the birds up for many disappointments.
Gouldians are best breed after their first adult moult ( several months after they finish the juvenile moult) This can be as late as 2 years after they hatch, but in many cases is 18 months. If they are bred too young they learn bad habits like parental neglect and that becomes a habit that is very hard to break as it re occurs with each clutch.
Always remove the first clutch after the next clutch has hatched and the parents have fed for a day or so. This teaches the elder siblings what is expected of a gouldian at this time. It learns good nesting habits, good courting behaviours, what the egg is and what to expect from it. These are all crucial to reducing fostering in your aviary/bird room.
I have heard this time and again how there is no difference but I have very little need for supplementing with this or that product to maintain vigor. It comes naturally from birds who receive gouldian antibodies much needed if goulds are to survive the rigors of moving, mating etc...Fostering regardless to what is the "norm" is not an ideal way to get gouldian stock as there is a glur of it already and we are seeeing what it is doing for the birds.
Many are now nothing but egg machines as they have no idea what a gouldian is to act like, How it is supposed to perform the biological function of propegation.
The only thing you are going to speed up is the likelihood of poor breeders.
This process propegates beauty over function.
If you choose a bird merely for it's looks you are again setting the bird up to fail. LIke all domestic
animals there is a high instance of heredity faults and these are increased as you saturate your line all because of a look you want to capture at the fids expense.
I foster under only 2 circumstances ill parent/parents or death of a parent/parents when incubating or feeding. That is the only times and it is to save a clutch that may of made it and not to boost stock levels so I can winnow out this trait or that as the most important trait of all is proper propegation of the flock/species. All others come with breeder selection/choices.
Hope this helps all of you struggling with this question as it is the most talked about aspect of gouldians and in many cases is 1 more of morality then all others.
Either a breeder is out to improve the hobby or fatten her/his pocket book with volume. I prefer quality.
Gouldains can and do raise their own chicks just not 30+ per pair-per season. What bird does?
JMO
(')<-Keep Birding
Ron  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
Home
bravenet.com