Help........I blundered !

[Viraba]

Hi Everybody,
I don't know if anybody has any suggestions, but I'm open to offers.

I've just completed a new set of suspendeds (bank of 2) and as planned have moved a pair of cinnamon tiels and a pair of rainbows (thought to be both males ??)

The rainbows have been digging around the nesting box for over 7 weeks now with no resulting eggs etc so the assumption was made that males they were !!!!!!!!

When I went to move these guys this morning they were both in the nesting box, so I covered the entry hole and moved them box and all. "What a great idea", thought I. No chance of being bitten and less stress on the birds seeing that I didn't need to chase then around the cage to net them !!

All went well and they were safely transferred, HOWEVER, when I went to remove the nesting box to mount it properly (they were using it as a roost !) I discovered that there's at least one female in the pair and there were 2 eggs

I had been out of town and hadn't checked the box for 4 days (not expecting anything to be there as they were both males !!). Since this has happened neither bird appears to have accessed the nesting box and neither of them has roosted in it tonight as they normally would.

It would appear that I've stuffed up and they've rejected the clutch totally. Any suggestions here or do I just put it down to stupidity and experience


Viraba

[fischer]

Hi Viraba, try to fix the nestbox in as much the same position as possible, and you can try to tempt them near the box by putting some of their favorite treats on the top, apart from doing this, leave the box untouched as much as possible.
Thats all I can think of at the moment, others may have some suggestions, if the birds are really intent on breeding they will go back.
I haved moved birds like you did, in the box, before with generally good results, sometimes they take a little time to go back.
Hope this helps...Tony

[josiedownunda]

Unless you know for sure one is a male there is the chance they could both be hens!
Give them time and they may go back to the box. Even if it takes a day or 2 the eggs may still be ok if they hadn't started sitting tight yet. Not sure if rainbows are the same as tiels but I have had eggs left for a few days after being laid then gone back to and they were fine.
And don't punish yourself over making a mistake like this.......we have all made mistakes and it is the best way to learn sometimes. It embeds the lesson more firmly in the brain I think.I am sure you will never shift a box again without looking inside!
Please keep us updated on how they go.
Jo-Anne

[Viraba]

Thank's guys but things aren't looking good. They've been rehoused now for over 2 days and haven't gone near the box.

I've tried to put in roughly the same place as it was in the other avairy but it doesn't seem to have done the job.

I certainly haven't touched it since !!

You're correct though..........I'll never move another box without taking a look inside !!

I'll let you know how things go

Viraba

[Catbird]

*guess mode* It might have been the transportation in the box that has them flustered. They might be scared of going back into the box in fear of being trapped in again.

When we move our birds when they have young we remove the parents, and transport the young separately, we then set the aviary up exactly the same, replace the box and release the parents. Seems to work.

- Claire

[Viraba]

Yeah thank's Clare,
If I'd thought for 1 minute that there were eggs/ young etc that's exactly what I would have done !!!!!!

It seems that they've fixed the problem themselves. Both eggs were broken yesterday when I checked to see if they'd gone back in. Look's like they've jumped or fallen on them as they were OK after I discovered them the first time.

I've taken the box out and will replace it with another type..........actually I'll put in 2 and give them the choice so that they won't be scared of similar looking boxes etc.

Oh well !!!.........all's fair in keeping birds

Viraba