I have 2 cocks that I have tried with 4 differents hen since last July giving them a break betweeen each hen and they have produced nothing. How many times do you put a cock down before knowing he's a dud?

Have they bonded and mated with clear eggs or nothing at all?

I have a couple of males that just arent interested in the hens available, then one old show boy I have had for years decided last year to pair up and have a clutch.

Some of the harder ones need a good lead up to the breeding season with heaps of soft food, vitamins, branches and soaked seed to get them really fired up.

I think some of them just dont like rejections by the hen either so they stop trying.

I have a cock that I tried with 3 hens last year and he would not have a bar of them, So I put him back in the flight and gave him an hen that chsed him around the cage for a day and after a week a a bond formed. I have not witnessed any mating yet but she is in and out the nest box.

 

So The Pie is correct.

Have they bonded and mated with clear eggs or nothing at all?

I have a couple of males that just arent interested in the hens available, then one old show boy I have had for years decided last year to pair up and have a clutch.

Some of the harder ones need a good lead up to the breeding season with heaps of soft food, vitamins, branches and soaked seed to get them really fired up.

I think some of them just dont like rejections by the hen either so they stop trying.

 

 

The last time I paired them it was with hens they had bonded with in the aviary so I put them into breeding cages. I did see them mating but both lots had clear eggs? One of them also had clear eggs with one of the other hens he was with.

Edited March 26, 200817 yr by Denise

I had this same problem with Prince .... The 3 time over there were 3 eggs 1 fertile 2 not the fertile was DIS ( Dead In Shell) so I am waiting till next set to see if the same .... He will be a pet

Sounds like you have already done what I would usually do. If I put a pair together & they have infertile eggs, I will often let them have another try. And if that fails, if they are special in some way I will give them a rest in the aviary, then pair them with a proven mate that has already proved they can produce fertile eggs, with another bird.

 

Another thing that has worked in some cases, was if a pairs first eggs were infertile instead of just taking the eggs away & leaving them to go down again, which I often found took ages, I have given them some foster chicks & after that they seem to go down quicker. After trying them a few times especially after mating with a proven mate, if they are not special to you in some way, I would give up on them & either retire them or get rid of them.

 

That’s why I find you get plenty of duds from pet shops.

That's why I find you get plenty of duds from pet shops.

 

 

This is why I think I have duds. I bought them as breeding age budgies from a shop last year, they seem to be show types as they are quite large birds? I may give them another go later this year, I haven't decided yet?

Have their vents been plucked or trimmed to help fertility chances if needed?

Before you put them down next time cut the feathers away from the vent(bum)- you can leave the fluffy ones so its not completely bare if you like. Some birds that have a lot of feathering can have the feathers get in the way when mating. Do this with male and female.

Interesting....

nuh ya got me i no nuthin

Have their vents been plucked or trimmed to help fertility chances if needed?

 

 

Before you put them down next time cut the feathers away from the vent(bum)- you can leave the fluffy ones so its not completely bare if you like. Some birds that have a lot of feathering can have the feathers get in the way when mating. Do this with male and female.

 

 

Yes I did this the second and third time I tried them as I was told to try that from a breeder I spoke with.

You may have to cut your losses and retire the two cock birds. You may want to place them in your nappy cage and use them as "mentors" to your fledglings.

I have 2 cocks that I have tried with 4 differents hen since last July giving them a break betweeen each hen and they have produced nothing. How many times do you put a cock down before knowing he's a dud?

 

You can try A.I to see if they are producing sperm. The birds may have just not been ready. Timing is everything.