Zero Romance, Zero Breeding

[ggmab 0]

I have gone through a couple of forum posts on breeding. I improved diet well before starting to pair them, placed in a suitable pen. But after three weeks nothing........ am I too quick to judge. both birds are about 12 months old and its their first time. I will take any advise on offer

[Nadene 0]

The birds might not be in breeding condition. They do not breed just because of diet and the cage. You can tell of their condition by the colour of their cere. If you can post a picture someone can advise you if they a ready to breed or not.

[ggmab 0]

Thanks and sorry about the limited information, I will post a picture but I believe it looks correct. Though would love your input

[Budgie_Mad 0]

I agree with Nadene, they could just be out of breeding condition, you could just be expecting it too soon. they need time mine took 2 years to start breeding and well, you just have to bepatient. However they might just no tpair up iftheyy dont like eachother just be patien tho.

[Drogo 0]

How big is the hole in the nest box?

[wessiri 0]

I've had a pair together in a breeding cage for over 6 weeks and they only just started to lay.

[PJI 0]

What i do to get my birds to breed.

 

I spit them up a month or so prior to pairing up ,hens in one flight cocks in the other. By seperating the sexes prior to breeding you can hopefully break up any pairs that have bonded.When i think they are ready to pair up i place the hens in the breeding cabinet first, on there own for a few days with no nest box.

Then i introduce the cocks, after i have placed the cocks with the hens i observe them for an hour or so and make sure they are not going to kill each other.I then put them on a course of B12 for a week > VITAMIN B12 INJECTION <, it's available at most produce outlets. It comes in a 100ml sealed bottle and costs aprox $17 au, you add about 4mls to 3 ltres using a syringe , you can add more but that seems to work, one week on one week off and one week back on with the B12 .

 

I leave the nest box off the breeding cabinet for about a week or so until i am convinced the pair will breed.In other words, is the pair on the same perch? are they feeding each other? are they preening each other? etc. If all seems well then i place the nest box on the breeding cabinet without access for a further few days,then i trim there vents then allow access to the nest box usually within a week there will be eggs.

 

I have 18 breeding cabinets two banks of nine,there is usually a delay between breeding with the first bank and the second bank, i find this is an advantage at times for transferring eggs and chicks ,it gives me some options.At the moment i am using only one bank of nine & have 8 cabinets that have full eggs one cabinet failed with clear eggs ,i have placed full eggs under that pair and hopefully they will foster those eggs and lay full eggs next round. I hope i haven't rattled on to much,i know other breeders do things a lot different to me,this seems to work for me and i am getting results cheers Phill

[L__J 0]

hey Phill have you worked out why this delay is? is it lighting? is it warmer?

[PJI 0]

The delay L_J , is because i put nine pairs down first in one bank & wait about four to six weeks then put the other nine pairs down in the second bank of nine breeding cabinets.I try to time it so the second bank of nine are in time with the first banks second round.