Plum Head Parrot Breeding Boxes

[Noddy]

I have a pair of plumheads and would like to know the best type and size breeding box to use. There is not much available on the net but the best I can find is to use a box 7" square about 18" tall with a 2" hole near the top.

I would be pleased to hear from people who have actually bread plumheads successfully as I believe that they are not easy to breed.

I was also considering using peatmoss as a nesting material.

My cockbird is about 2-3 years old but the hen is only a year old. I was planning on breeding next season. Initially the hen was aggresive to the male but they are now very close. They regularly share food and sit together.

Comments and advise would be greatly appreciated.

Regards & thanks

[zoey]

I personnally don't breed them,l would question the age of the female, thou l am no expert here for 12 months in my opinion is a little young for breeding l prefer 18 months.
l found out the nestbox size recommended is 20 wide x 25 depth about 50 cms long.The entrance hole 10cms.
Hope this helps

[sypher]

Hi Noddy,

I use a modified Z box which the birds took to really well. Checking the eggs is simple with this design and the hen can safely get down to the chamber without juming on eggs. I have a post which has a pic of the box I use under the photo section called ohotos of other birds.

I have seen these birds succesfully breed in convential boxes around the same size as what pied has said, pyramid boxes etc.

Where do you live? I have a template for the box that I use. I will let you know the size of the box as soon as I can get a chance. I can get more pics for you aswell if it helps.

Shaun

[sypher]

Forgot to say, I use about a 60mm entrance hole with a timber ledge under.

Shaun

[avinet]

I used to breed them in the 1990's, and used a box similar to the one you have noddy. I always used pine wood shavings in the nest box. I've also used a standard cockatiel box without any problems - give the pair the 2 different boxes and see which they prefer. In the end, as long as they want to breed the box isn't particularly important.

As you are aware, 12 months is a bit young but if they want to breed then it is a bonus - by 2 years they should have a better chance of success but I found that 3 was the age for reliable breeding.

Once you have a compatible pair then breeding is quite easy, given good nutrition, but I never had great fertility and never got more than 2 babies a clutch from them, and never got them to double clutch. In the end I sold them since they couldn't justify the space they took up and the babies were difficult to sell - everyone wanted mature birds and not 3 month old babies. Even when hand reared we found little demand for them.

cheers,

Mike

[Noddy]

Thanks Mike