When to expect Eggs

[hallsie]

I live in Newcastle NSW region and have a pair of breeding Galahs, first time ive had these birds coming into a breeding season, they have been preparing their box with leaves and I have been adding calcium suppliments to food in prep for breeding. I have not noticed any mating in the aviary as yet, but there is alot of mutual pruning and following around the cage.

When should I expect to see some more action? The bloke who owned them before me said November, but im seeiing posts on bird forums and facebook of other aussies who have babies already?

Any advice is appreciated.

Cheers

[avinet]

Oct 7, 2013 10:37:11 GMT 10 hallsie said:

I live in Newcastle NSW region and have a pair of breeding Galahs, first time ive had these birds coming into a breeding season, they have been preparing their box with leaves and I have been adding calcium suppliments to food in prep for breeding. I have not noticed any mating in the aviary as yet, but there is alot of mutual pruning and following around the cage.

When should I expect to see some more action? The bloke who owned them before me said November, but im seeiing posts on bird forums and facebook of other aussies who have babies already?

Any advice is appreciated.

Cheers

Some birds breed early and some later in the season.  In Queensland they will breed a bit earlier than in cooler climates.  Thsi year it has been so hot so ealy and very dry as well that I expect a poor breeding season with many birds not breeding at all.

If the previous owner said November, and they were being kept in you local area then that is when you may expect them to breed for you.  By the sounds of it they are preparing the nest box, and preliminary courtshop so the prospects are looking good - just be patient, it will be worth it.

Hopefully you are giving them a good diet. Preferably pellets or at least a good quality small parrot seed mix.  In addition fresh fruit and vegies each day and I always found sprouted seed important to bring birds into good breeding condition.

Be very cautious of readingn too much into Facebook - I do see some really stupid things on there about birds.  Everyone seems to think they are an expert on parrots after keeping a budgie for a few months

cheers,

Mike

[hallsie]

Thanks so much Mike, I am trying to be patient.

RE: Diet, the birds are on a good quality seed mix that the previous owner had them on, I will get a pic and show you to make sure it is OK. They are also indulging in sprouts and fresh fruit / vegies.

[hallsie]

Hi Mike,

Here is a pic of the seed mix they eat, please let me know if you feel it is not an appropriate ix or there is something better;

imgur.com/wGZDIN6

[avinet]

Oct 9, 2013 16:25:20 GMT 10 hallsie said:

Hi Mike,

Here is a pic of the seed mix they eat, please let me know if you feel it is not an appropriate ix or there is something better;

imgur.com/wGZDIN6

Totally unsuitable!!!!!  Far too much sunflower - most of the seed visible seems to be sunflower - and sunflower equals fat, lots of fat, and fat can kill a Galah.  Also dried ?candied? fruit high in sugar - useless calories in abundance.  Peanuts in the shell - some can contain a harmful fungus that can kill.   So throw it away quickly, it will result in major Galah problems in particular Fatty Lipoma tumours - see the thread at aussiebirds.proboards.com/thread/7517/fatty-tumours-galahs to see what can develop with a Galah on a high fat diet.  That thread was 4½ years ago and Penny is still going strong after her operation and being put on a low fat pellet diet. 

As I mention in that thread low fat pellets are best for a Galah but at this tim eof year I would wait until after the breeding season and the summer moult before getting serious about converting them to pellets.  In the meantime get some good small parrot mix - the photo below gives an idea of what to look for.  If that can't be found then a budgie mix - Golden Cob is reasonable - and some separate grey stripe sunflower and give them the budgie seed with around 10 sunflower seeds each per day.  That is sufficient to give them the necessary amino acids needed for breeding - and plenty of vegies as well. 

cheers,

Mike

[hallsie]

Thankyou very much Mike. I have tossed all the old seed and replaced it with a mix that looks just like the one in your picture. I will look to change them over to pellets after breeding season. I appreciate the advice you give, not only to me but everyone else on this forum, you truly are a legend