breeding eckies

[eckie]

hi
i am intrested in seeing any pictures of aviaries set up for eckies. i have a pair of eckies that have been looking like going down fot the last 4 months. they look like they are going to breed and then they just stop.
a couple of weeks ago they were both sitting on the nest box perch and ontop of the nest box for about 3 days but nothing happened. can anyone suggest anything to encourage them to breed?
maybe if i take some photos of my setup for them and yous can tell me what you think about it and if there is anything i can change to encourage them to breed?
thanks jamie

[AussieBirds]

Pictures would be a good idea Jamie then maybee we can get some idea of your set up, look forward to seeing them. Good to see you posting again too we have missed you around here.

John

[eckie]

i have been on a few times lately but nobody was on.
i will get some pictures 2day and post them 2moro.

[archie]

Im trying to show you some photos but i dont know how.

[billspets]

to the left of where you are typing your post you will see the word " browse " use that to find your pic then hit "host it " onece you have found it then a second window will come up it will jave 3 codes on it just copy and post the second code into where you writhe your post and then hit the "post "button and it should show your pic
if you have any problems let me know
regards
bill

[archie]

Hi,
Here's a pic of my new bank of aviaries for my Eclectus. 3.5m L x 1.5 W x 2.4 H.

Thanks Bill.

Cheers,
Matt.

[hillcresttiels]

Hey archie great set-up! just a little tip careful if there is a lot of sun on that back wall where the boxes are located as it can fry the chicks in the nest from the heat of the sheets ::)cheers Frank

[eckie]

hi
thank you very much for the pics.
i have just started building my new aviaries
which one will be for my eckies.
the eckies flight is going to be
3.2 long 1.4 wide x 2.4 high.
i was thinking of putting the back end suspended
so they cant get to all yuck fruit.
what do you think about half suspended half conventional aviary?
would this work?
thanks jamie

[Smiley]

Sounds good Jamie...But once they settle,all things my start to happen for you...So the sooner the better you have it build...For you will want a few months before breeding season comes up..

[archie]

I have also included a sprinkler system on my aviary, the bird really enjoy it, especially on the hot days. Their feathers look even better now. You should definately consider this as the Eclectus are a tropical parrot.

Its fairly simple, a $40 electronic timer from Bunnings with some sprinkler system tubing and nozzels.

Because Eclectus dont chew too much, they have left the nozzel that sticks into the aviary alone and i have not had a problem, whereas i tried to do the same for my cockatoo and it was wrecked in half a day.

[coltfire]

Does any one have any idea why my eckies keep throwing dud eggs ,now its not due to there feeding as i am very fussy with that and they get every thing that they should ,there cage is fine as its the same set up as the other eckies cages and they are all breeding,the pair that arnt putting out good eggs are a hand reared pair,now the male was taken off his first owner at 6 months of age due to the guy had no idea how to look after eckies and when i got him he was in bad condition but i got him back to good health with in 3 months ,the birds have now thrown 5 lots of bad eggs.should i have him checked out to see if he is infertile

[billspets]

hello jamie
firstly welcome to aussie birds and hope to hear and see more about your birds
firstly have you seen them copulate at all
secondly if they are copulating properly me personaly i would concider either fostering the eggs or using an incubator just to astablish whether the problem is with the male or the female if there is no joy then i would concider spliting them and puting them with different partners
i have herd of people having problems with handreared birds and getting them to breed
hope this helps
regards
bill

[coltfire]

bill yes i have seen them copulate,and i pulled the eggs the other day and they are back at it ,can i put the eggs under one of the other females,if not ill just have to buy an incubator,as to putting them with other partners i was told they would not breed ,please if this is wrong info i was given let me know as i will try it ,and bill the name is steve. thank you in addvance

[billspets]

hello Steve
if you have a female that starts laying around the same time as this pair do you can mark the egg and very car fully place it under her if you carnt get it under her try to get it close to her and in most cases she will pull it under her then it is a waiting game
as far as being able to split them to see if they would breed with other partners that is one of the great debates some say yes you can and others say you carnt i think it goes down to the individual and if they want to give it a go
if after fostering the eggs and it comes out that they are infertile then i would concider spliting them to try to determin wether it is the male or female
hope this helps
regards
bill

[coltfire]

thanks bill ,ill try fostering them first and see what happens. can a vet check to see if they are fertile birds or would that stress them out to much.

[billspets]

hello steve
the less time the birds spend at the vet the less stress that your bird is under in my opinion so i would be using that as a last resort to be honest with you
and i am uncertain weather the vet can do a furtility test on the birds either i belive you will have to phone around to see if any of the vets do it
hope this helps

regards
bill

[coltfire]

thanks once again bill ,i did'nt want to put them through going to the vets, as eckies do stress quite easy and it takes to long to settle them back down again.

Steve

[macawvic]

archie said:

Hi,
Here's a pic of my new bank of aviaries for my Eclectus. 3.5m L x 1.5 W x 2.4 H.

Thanks Bill.

Cheers,
Matt.

Bizarre, I can't seem to see your posted pics.

[macawvic]

motherhen said:

Sounds good Jamie...But once they settle,all things my start to happen for you...So the sooner the better you have it build...For you will want a few months before breeding season comes up..

Eckies are non seasonal breeders and once established, will go all year round.

[macawvic]

coltfire said:

Does any one have any idea why my eckies keep throwing dud eggs ,now its not due to there feeding as i am very fussy with that and they get every thing that they should ,there cage is fine as its the same set up as the other eckies cages and they are all breeding,the pair that arnt putting out good eggs are a hand reared pair,now the male was taken off his first owner at 6 months of age due to the guy had no idea how to look after eckies and when i got him he was in bad condition but i got him back to good health with in 3 months ,the birds have now thrown 5 lots of bad eggs.should i have him checked out to see if he is infertile

Some may object to my statement, but I believe that an ex-handraised bird will make an equally productive breeder. A large percentage of my breeding pairs were originally handraised (note the difference to birds which have been huiman-imprinted) and are all pretty reliable producers. Only difference I have noted is that the hens and cocks are more prone to attacking you, especially when checking nests, as they lack the fear of humans.

It really depends how nutriotionally abused he was when you acquired your cock. It is possible that his poor diet may have irrepairable damaged his sexual organs. Not that i've ever experienced this as birds are incredibly resilient and will surprise us when we least expect it.

As was highlighted by another member, you'd want to inflict as little stress as possible. A visit to the vet to determine the state of your bird's testes is recommended if you continually receive clear eggs. Please note that this procedure should ONLY be attempted by experienced avian vets (same procedure to surgical sexing). Incorrect dosage of anaethetia will kill your bird. How old is the cock now?