Male Red rump won't let female in nest box

[ambercat]

Hi, I'm new here. I use to breed finches, I'm trying to breed my pair of red rumps. I was told the birds are 3 years old. The male had been calling and displaying to the female a lot, and there are feathers missing from him preening her head. So I placed a grasskeets nest box in near the top of the cage and things looked really promising when the female started checking out the opening of the nest box. But now, the male wont let her in the box. When she gets close to it he "yells" at her and chases her away from it. They even BOTH shake their tail feathers during these chases which I believe I read was a sign of territory defence/fighting? I am 99% sure "she" is a "she", she has no red feathers on her rump. She is lutino and has red on her upper back but none on her rump. Any ideas??

[zena]

I know that sometimes the males can be very aggressive, and sometimes they attack the females... Also are you sure they are compatible?

[lovielady]

If we knew where in the world you are "ambercat" we could reply as to the normal climate breeding conditions for Red rumps in your area. Did you buy these two togeather as a breeding pair?

[avinet]

A photo of the female would be useful, especially of the back and side. It may be that the pair are not compatible, were they sold to you as a breeding pair that had bred together in the past? Unfortunately it isn't unknown for a breeder to sell a pair knowing they have issues together - and the buyer ends up with the problem.

How long have you had them? It might be best to remove the nest box for a while, and put it back in the spring when there is a greater chance that both are into breeding cycle at the same time and a possible dislike for each other is overcome by the greater need to breed. The way it appears at present there may be a risk of injury to the female if the nest box remains.

cheers,

Mike

[ambercat]

I've had them for 6 weeks. I put the nest box in last week. I am in Canada, it is spring here although the birds are in my house not outside. I was sold them as a breeding pair, but from a breeder who was selling off a bunch of pairs to move to his cottage and had only recently got them (I went to see him about babies he had from another pair and he wasn't thinking of selling this pair until I inquired about them). How do I know if they are "compatible". I'm use to finches - my javas are pretty accepting of a mate lol.

[zena]

Usually a compatible pair won't fight... as much... usually feed together as well... I'm not sure with red rumps because they differ (This is all birds...) the male I recently got ( ) is very docile and loves everyone (He's not tame...)

[ambercat]

Should I try a different male or female then?

[zena]

It depends- if you want and can find one... it took me hours of searching to find one (Male), or you coul;d leave them without breeding- does the male attack the hen without the nesting box in?

[ambercat]

He doesn't attack her when the box is removed now. They do bicker a bit but its not as aggressive. And I bought them with the intention of breeding them so if I have to replace one with a new mate I will. I was thinking of removing the male, putting the box back in for the female to check out, and then in time putting the male back in like in a few weeks. I'll keep the birds close in separate cages and maybe they will be interested in one another again later.

[ambercat]

You're suppose to introduce the male to the female cage right? And not the other way around?

[avinet]

That would be the usual way - so the male (likely to be the more aggrerssive, although some females can have issues as well) is going into the female's territory.

cheers,

Mike

[bitf03m030]

Dear Fellows,
I need ur help. i had redrump pair, few days ago female died, and now i bought a rubino female and placed it with my rump male, but male is not treating her well and very aggressive with her. plz guide me how to handle this situation. thanks