Red Rump breeding troubles

Melody · 10-03-2005, 01:48 PM

My mum has a pair of red rumps. Last year they had three babies, but three weeks after hatching the mum red rump abandoned them and they died.
This year she has laid several eggs, the first lot she abandoned, and the second lot, (3 eggs) she has pecked one egg open and killed the semi formed baby inside, the other two eggs are dark in colour.
I guess my question is, why is the mother red rump killing her babies?
Any Ideas?

mattybgood67 · 10-03-2005, 03:55 PM

melody : such a hard question to answer, it could be that she just doesn't know what to do,
it could be that there is something wrong with the eggs or chicks.
in the wild, birds often dispose of bad eggs, sick or different chicks, it's natural.
several examples
yellow tailed black cockatoo's lay 2 eggs, hatch 2 chicks, and normally boot 1 out, to maintain the survival of the species parenting of one chick is not as demanding as 2.
example 2
wild cockatiel are all grey, as wild budgies are green, any difference in colour will result in most cases death, either by harasment from the flock for being different, from predators singling them out because they are different and therefore seem sick.
human intervention is why we have so many mutations ( different colours) a mother boots out a chick and we step in and decide we are going to save this birdie by hand feeding and raising. also in captive breeding there is no flock to regulate the different colours. now i am not totally against this..! but in some cases all we are doing is raising a sick bird that may weaken the breed.
i hope that i have helped
i hope that no one is offended by what i have said
regards
matty

Melody · 10-03-2005, 04:09 PM

Thanks Matty, I don't think that you would have offened anyone with your reply. (well not me anyway)
Mum and i thought that she might not know what to do, and we are hoping that next season, she'll get it right. Mum will keep her no matter what, as the red rump and my mum have bonded, well that and the fact that the female red rump has a 'club' foot and has a huge amount of trouble getting around.
Poor little red rump, she is such a sewwtie, they have the sweetest whistles!

WolfRyder · 10-03-2005, 04:16 PM

she may feel overwhelmed, if she has a handicap. Maybe the problem isn't with the chicks but with her. Maybe she instinctvly knows she may pass on the deformed foot.

I'm no bird psychologist, but it's a thought.

Melody · 10-03-2005, 05:52 PM

but a very good thought, i did not think of that. Thanks.

mattybgood67 · 10-03-2005, 09:37 PM

the club foot shouldn't affect her breeding. i know a bird shop owner who's best breeders ( finches and budgies) are rejects., meaning they can't fly, club feet, she even has a blind lady gouldian finch who, mate tend to her every need..
minor deformaties that don't get passed down to the young, normally don't pose a problem. but hey. no 2 birds are the same..!
regards
matty

WolfRyder · 10-04-2005, 04:17 AM

thanks matty,

I didn't know, was just taking a guess. I was just thinking "outtype"

As I said, I'm not bird psychologist