IN LAST MONTH'S column, I mentioned the enigma of breeding my Gouldian finches – and the theme continues further into this month. This time, it is with my small stud of black-headed normals.
So far, only one of the hens has been in condition to breed and I had her with her partner in the same cage layout as those that were breeding furiously next door. This is essentially a large single breeding cage with a modified budgie nest-box. Now, those who keep Gouldians willnavigate a system of a loose tunnel to the deepest corner of the box. However, most pairs would line this area with some finer materials – but not this pair. They barely scraped out a concave in the hay, resulting in the eggs ending up all over the place. Each time I looked, I would find eggs here and there, but the hen was unable to sit effectively.
