New Breeding Season

[Laraine]

Has everyone put their breeding boxes in yet. I put mine in yesterday. Two female budgies immediately hopped in. The Cockatiels are peering in, but haven't got in yet. The Red Rumps are still fighting, even the female chased my new Eastern Rosella away from her box.

Every year I cross my fingers for a good season, but it hasn't happened yet, apart from budgies and cockatiels.

[vankarhi]

Well I put mine in a while ago.......Shrekies only went in about 6 weeks ago, but Skye's went in a few months ago. Shrekie is sitting on 4 eggs which are due to hatch since last Friday/Sat....so it looks like the first egg wont hatch now, but she layed all eggs 4 days apart so I will be waiting until next week to see if any hatch this time. It her first clutch so I am not getting too excited yet.

My canaries have sat on 3 clutches but no bubs yet.

Skye and Gunny have had 2 clutches....the first clutch of 3 eggs were infertile (I expected it) the second clutch of 2 eggs hatched out one baby ........ and that would be Erik ;D

So I am happy ;D

[mydoona]

do you have to put nesting material in the nesting box or let the birds do it? I have attached my nesting box and put a few bits of paper and feathers in there but thought my lovie will do the rest? also what are good nesting materials to use?

[vankarhi]

my canaries I put feathers and nesting stuff for them to take up to their nest to make themselves. For my alex's and ekkies I put pine shavings in and they then "tidy" them up to suit themselves. I have heard of putting moist coir in with the ekkies too. I must try to remember to get some.

[Laraine]

I put Parrot Nesting Material which I buy from the pet shop in all but the budgies boxes. It looks something like potting mix, but you can get wood shavings as well, but I don't know where to buy them. With the budgies they don't like nesting material and their boxes have the little hollow inside. I once put some in and they took the whole lot out beak by beak.

[vankarhi]

lol Laraine ;D

[Jane]

I have been organised this season for a change and have boxes in for 2 pairs of princesses, 2 pairs of superbs (although the hens are only 2 and 3 years old so mighn't be old enough yet)
and the redwing parrots, I'm pleased to report that they have been in their new box (1.2m high ) which is more than they did last year. Also 2 normal scarlet pairs, 1 blue, 1 RF yellow turquoisine pair and very sadly had got all excited that my normal turq hen had stayed in the nest Sat night but unfortunately there was a sad reason for that........ So now I need a new turq hen
Here's hoping for some spring weather to get them started

Oh and I use 'Nest Box Fines' which is small I suppose rice size woodshaving chips and comes in a big bale like regular woodshavings Given how much I go through when I start cleaning the boxes weekly I need a big size Actually only the 'tiels are really messy

[vankarhi]

sorry to hear of your loss Jane

[avinet]

you'll have to get those cockatiels going as well Jane

cheers,

Mike

[Jane]

Aaah yes I will Mike ;D Just figuring out an avairy space plan since I put a Superb pair in the avairy that 3 pairs of 'tiels usually share Ooops. Don't worry I'm working on it I should probably kick the superbs out since the hen won't be old enough anyway I just thought they might 'practice' for next year.

[avinet]

Aug 18, 2008 16:44:28 GMT 10 Laraine said:

With the budgies they don't like nesting material and their boxes have the little hollow inside. I once put some in and they took the whole lot out beak by beak.

I always continue to add nesting material (wood shavings) to budgie boxes even though they chuck it out. When the hen starts laying I make sure there is still a reasonable amount in there and most hens stop throwing it out when eggs appear.

My theory is that having some nesting material stops the eggs rolling around since even with a concave in the bottom of the box the eggs can still roll too much if they are sitting on bare wood. Also the shavings help to insulate the eggs from heat loss through the wood on the bottom of the box. As a result hatch rates should be higher. It also stops the baby's legs from possibly slipping out from under them and potentially causing splay leg problems.

cheers,

Mike

[Jane]

Good idea Mike I should have done that when I had a pair of budgies. I gave up when the hen threw it all out but have a splayed leg budgie as a result. I tried all the taping & make up pads etc but 1 leg is askew, doesn't stop the budgie trying to mate with the dove all day though

[pinkdevil]

The budgie tries it on with the dove?!!

Wow he certainly has high hopes doesn't he lol

All my birds have their boxes in now. Also keeps them warm in this cold winter. I find they sleep in the boxes of a night.

[Laraine]

You all have been busy little beavers up north. I might try just a small amount of nesting mix in with the budgies again as I have noticed that the eggs do roll around everywhere. See if they throw it out again. My one footed male budgie (bitten off by my Crimson Rosella) has teamed up with a female. Both first time parents, she is in the nest, but I'm wondering if he will manage to do the deed.

[chris]

poor bugger hes legless,good luck to him though,can never keep a man down lol

[meandem]

Aug 20, 2008 22:03:28 GMT 10 chris said:

poor bugger hes legless,good luck to him though,can never keep a man down lol

You crack me up!!!!
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D


As for the boxes, we put ours in about two weeks ago, it is still a little cold here, but it gets them all interested and they want to see what is inside those boxes! My crimson rosella (Precious), has her own log that she nests in, and she gets that every year. She isn't in to the whole box thing. Also my hooodeds have a log, but I don't give them their log until January. Their log actually lays longways and they nest in that, but traditionally they are late breeders.
This year, my husband has made some new boxes/tubes out of PVC, and we have given them to some of the birds. The ringnecks are really interested in them, so this year will prove very interesting.

[Laraine]

Those breeding boxes look like a good idea, I have seen similar at the bird markets. Mine chew their boxes which is very annoying. I've got a footless turk parrot too (bitten off by the same Crimson Rosella) so hopefully he will manage to breed too, will keep you posted.

[Laraine]

I've had a really bad breeding season this year and have lost lots of babies. However, in the last week or so I have had 4 female budgies go into the nest and 3 cockatiels. Might actually have something to sell afterall.

[meandem]

We'll keep all our fingers and toes and claws crossed for you Laraine.

[Laraine]

Grrr I feel like strangling one of my cockatiels pairs. They have 3 babies about 12 days old. On the weekend whenever I looked into their box the babies were in there alone looking very hungry. This morning, after a cold night, the parents were sleeping outside the box. Luckily the babies were huddled together and warm. I put them in with another mother who has 2 babies the same age. They are twice the size of the 3. Hopefully she will accept them.