Preparing For My Breeding Season

[**Liv** 0]

It shows which hens are keen. Cocks will condition up to follow the hens, but the box clearly shows which hens are interested in breeding

[renee 0]

It shows which hens are keen. Cocks will condition up to follow the hens, but the box clearly shows which hens are interested in breeding

 

Yes, that's right. As of next Monday I'll start incrementing the iodine and calcivet.

 

To my delight, the hen at the nest box entrance is a Greygreen Clearflighted Pied, sister to Magic, who if I do say so myself, is the best looking bird in my aviary (I am biased!).

[renee 0]

This afternoon I'm going to set up the Holding Cage for the hens.

 

After some consideration I'm concerned that if I separate the hens for 2 weeks they may come out of condition.

 

So I've come up with idea of putting 3 cock birds in with them. These 3 I've already discerned will probably will be candidates for AI. All are super big birds, the Normal Sky has a dodgey foot and the others are the 2 I got from John Payne and he described them as 'lazy buggers' that hadn't bred for him. I'm hoping that when in contact with randy hens they will peak into condition.

 

What do you guys think of this plan?

[**Liv** 0]

I just put each pair into their own holding cage.. that way they have plenty of time to bond before the box goes in... that's just me and i dont know if its the "done thing" - is working for me so far

[renee 0]

I just put each pair into their own holding cage.. that way they have plenty of time to bond before the box goes in... that's just me and i dont know if its the "done thing" - is working for me so far

 

But how long do you keep them in the holding cage before introducing them to the breeding cabinet?

 

I know that budgie sperm can survive in the hen for up to 10 days.

[Pearce 0]

This afternoon I'm going to set up the Holding Cage for the hens.

 

After some consideration I'm concerned that if I separate the hens for 2 weeks they may come out of condition.

 

So I've come up with idea of putting 3 cock birds in with them. These 3 I've already discerned will probably will be candidates for AI. All are super big birds, the Normal Sky has a dodgey foot and the others are the 2 I got from John Payne and he described them as 'lazy buggers' that hadn't bred for him. I'm hoping that when in contact with randy hens they will peak into condition.

 

What do you guys think of this plan?

 

Renee, Have you ever tried putting the cocks in one cage and the hens in another. Cages side by side so the birds can see eachother. I know some breeders who do this and it is supposed to be very good. Supposedly the hens stay in condition because they are desperate to mate, and when put in with the cock they will mate early.

I am going to try this method this year and see how good it works.

 

What method did you use last season?

[renee 0]

This afternoon I'm going to set up the Holding Cage for the hens.

 

After some consideration I'm concerned that if I separate the hens for 2 weeks they may come out of condition.

 

So I've come up with idea of putting 3 cock birds in with them. These 3 I've already discerned will probably will be candidates for AI. All are super big birds, the Normal Sky has a dodgey foot and the others are the 2 I got from John Payne and he described them as 'lazy buggers' that hadn't bred for him. I'm hoping that when in contact with randy hens they will peak into condition.

 

What do you guys think of this plan?

 

Renee, Have you ever tried putting the cocks in one cage and the hens in another. Cages side by side so the birds can see eachother. I know some breeders who do this and it is supposed to be very good. Supposedly the hens stay in condition because they are desperate to mate, and when put in with the cock they will mate early.

I am going to try this method this year and see how good it works.

 

What method did you use last season?

That sounds like a good idea. Thank You Pearce!

 

Last year I just caught up a hen who was hanging around the nest box in the aviary, and put her and the mate I had preselected into the breeding cabinet. No forethought involved!

[Pearce 0]

Thats exactly What I used to do, When I get a few more pairs I will try the seperate cage method. Good luck.

[renee 0]

Well I was only going to catch up a few ....

 

Cabinets facing each other, hens on the Left, some cocks on the Right:

 

Two tiered Holding Cage for Hens

 

Now they are on Calcivet, Iodine (4 drops) and Apple Cider (4 drops)

I've also turned on the Arcadia Lighting.

Edited March 11, 2009 by renee

[Pearce 0]

Looking good Renee, Good luck.

[Daz 0]

I run the cocks and hens togeather until a month out from my indended pairing period then separate them. Keeping them togeather keeps them active and fit.

 

Henry George also puts a hollow log in the hen's flight to see which ones are coming into breeding condition.

[renee 0]

I run the cocks and hens togeather until a month out from my indended pairing period then separate them. Keeping them togeather keeps them active and fit.

 

Henry George also puts a hollow log in the hen's flight to see which ones are coming into breeding condition.

I keep hens and cocks together in my big aviary. I don't have another aviary to separate them to as I still have young uns in the baby aviary.

 

That's why I'm really happy with Pearce's suggestion of putting them into Holding cages facing each other.

 

Fingers crossed it works out!

[Heathrow 0]

I run mine together all the time, never been a problem for me. I do take the birds that i want breed with into the breeding room a few weeks before pairing though, but they are not seperated.

[renee 0]

I run mine together all the time, never been a problem for me. I do take the birds that i want breed with into the breeding room a few weeks before pairing though, but they are not seperated.

 

How about 'unexplained' surprises? Where a pair not destined for each other get the jiggying on just prior to being put into the breeding cabinet?

[**KAZ** 0]

I run mine together all the time, never been a problem for me. I do take the birds that i want breed with into the breeding room a few weeks before pairing though, but they are not seperated.

Me too...this is how I do things.

[Pearce 0]

I run mine together all the time, never been a problem for me. I do take the birds that i want breed with into the breeding room a few weeks before pairing though, but they are not seperated.

Me too...this is how I do things.

 

How do you know that some birds don't mate while they are in the holding cages and you get babies that you dont want or expect?

[**KAZ** 0]

I run mine together all the time, never been a problem for me. I do take the birds that i want breed with into the breeding room a few weeks before pairing though, but they are not seperated.

Me too...this is how I do things.

 

How do you know that some birds don't mate while they are in the holding cages and you get babies that you dont want or expect?

Rarely happens....as there is no nestboxes and also...new cage means distractions.

[the pie 0]

Good luck with the start of the breeding. I love the pairing up bit, you think and look and think, ..... then change your mind lol

 

Wanted to let you know the big greygreen fella you gave me has 1 hatch, 1 foster and another 1 or 2 to come He is a dag

Fingers crossed

Thankyou

 

And if the pied fella stops bonking the perch and steps up he will be too. He has a tough one though, might give him an easier girl next time.

[**Liv** 0]

I just put each pair into their own holding cage.. that way they have plenty of time to bond before the box goes in... that's just me and i dont know if its the "done thing" - is working for me so far

 

But how long do you keep them in the holding cage before introducing them to the breeding cabinet?

 

I know that budgie sperm can survive in the hen for up to 10 days.

 

Sorry, I didn't put it clearly. I put each pair into their own breeding cabinet with no box for the first 2 weeks.

Edited March 13, 2009 by **Liv**

[Pearce 0]

I just put each pair into their own holding cage.. that way they have plenty of time to bond before the box goes in... that's just me and i dont know if its the "done thing" - is working for me so far

 

But how long do you keep them in the holding cage before introducing them to the breeding cabinet?

 

I know that budgie sperm can survive in the hen for up to 10 days.

 

Sorry, I didn't put it clearly. I put each pair into their own breeding cabinet with no box for the first 2 weeks.

 

That would be good, atleast you would know that you would not get any unexpected chicks.

[renee 0]

I mentioned earlier that I was going to replace the Fussy Cat Litter with sand in the bottom of my breeding cabinets ....

 

I take it all back! After a 10 day trial of having sand in the bottom of my holding cabinets I have discovered that it's a pain in the proverbial but. The birds flick it all over the place and it clogs up the seed dispenser. :sad:

 

Here's what I mean:

 

So now I have gone out and bought some zeolite and replaced the sand with that:

~0~

I'm going to make this another thread soon but here's a couple of Greywing pairings:

 

Pair One: Sky Greywing hen with Cobalt Greywing cock

 

Pair Two: Cobalt Greywing hen with Normal split Opaline Sky Cock

 

A little bit of background on these guys, the 3 Greywings are from the deceased estate of Lin Pittick. Pair one cock and Pair two hen are brother and sister. Pair One sky hen has the darker greywing markings. The cock that I have put Pair two hen to is a Gary Armstrong boy, she is the lesser looking greywing of the 3 and I'm hoping his top end will compliment her.

[Daz 0]

I just put a piece of newspaper on the tray. Some hens chew it up but I replace it weekly.

[renee 0]

I just put a piece of newspaper on the tray. Some hens chew it up but I replace it weekly.

 

I don't give them grit but I have been told that zeolite is a good substitute AND that it's recyclable, all you have to do is wash it!

[**KAZ** 0]

I just put a piece of newspaper on the tray. Some hens chew it up but I replace it weekly.

Me too

[renee 0]

Between yesterday and today I've put 16 pairs down, they can't access the nest box, that'll happen next week some time.

 

Here's some photos:

 

 

Edited March 19, 2009 by renee