I have been giving some thought to what sort of birds I am going to start off on and due to the size of my aviary I won't have a breeding room and will most likely just do some colony breeding for a while. I am going to have up to a max 10 pairs in the aviary.

 

I have always loved the Australiaqn Dominant Pied, especially the light greens.

 

What I am considering is buying some reasonable select dominant pied cocks and an equal number of reasonable hens and just let them go for it.

 

Appreciate your thoughts.

i used to do colony breeding but i lost 2 hens because they where fighting over a breeding box and i had more boxes than pairs in the aviary so i have stopped breeding till i can build a breeding room and cabinets. my personal opinion is that colony breeding is not the perfect setup and i am not risking my birds lives anymore by doing it.

I won't colony breed again, for the same reasons as Deb... but the choice is yours. As to your birds... sounds good!

Derek,I would not colony breed,Do you have another shed or something,you can put some breeding

boxes,You will not have the hassles,you would have,trying to colony breed.

Been there ...done that....and wouldn't do it again.

hehehehe ... HERE IS NEAT !!!! ....

 

I love colony breeding : ) it has it's benefits only the 1 -2 feed containers 1 - 2 water dishes .... They have more room and movement and can fly etc ..... BUT I tend to get the Bi*chest Hens who wants what others have ..... I have 2 pairs at the moment in my breeding avairy and once they have finished I will be setting it up with stacked cabinets ... Yes more work, buying more feed dishes cuttle bones mineral blocks etc etc so the inital cost set up will be expensive However, I am sure it will out weigh the loss of eggs and hens due to there teritorial nature .... Hope this help you Derek .... My first 6 months of breeding was AWESOME NO PROBS LENTY OF EGGS AND CHICK But the last 6 months has been a nightmare . this is why I have shyed off until i a set up ...again ... Best of luck though

Hmmmmmmmmmm. Not getting a very positive response here. Appreciate that though.

 

I have previosly had terrific results with colony breeding and have never lost a bird through fighting. I have even used very large lengths of bamboo with 2" holes cut in it for nesting boxes.

 

Apart from fighting what other reasons do people have against it.

That is all that I could think of and has happen to me ...

I colony breed AND cabinet breed... i also don't have a bird room or anything and my cabinets are set up on the back wall of my house, next to my window out of the wind and under the patio for weather protection. While i do have SOME problems with colony breeding as i'm home all the time I find it very easy to keep an eye out. I've only had a few accidents when i didn't pull a hen from the aviary or so on right away. All young birds trying to breed and all hens being naughty are removed from the aviary immediatly. I like to have the cabinets used for birds being selectivly bred, or who create a problem in the aviary, and the avairy for all those wishing to breed who don't get a chance in the cabinets. Most of the birds bred in the aviary are sold as pets or to other aviaries. Where as i generally keep the cabinet chicks as i was chasing their mutations.

There's alot of downfalls to colony breeding which many people make obvious and draw attention to. But I find there's alot of bonus also and don't feel as guilty for letting these birds breed. Like i said, any trouble makers are removed and it's nice to watch how the ecosystem works. My partner and i spend many hours out under the patio watching the birds and checking chicks and so on.... which isn't always as well welcomed in the cabinets...

I say if you don't have anywehre to keep cabinets and want to try colony breeding again, go for it... just make sure you're able to keep an eye on them all and have a spare place to put the "naughty" birds

I work all day are aren't able to keep an eye on my birds. Because of colony breeding, many of my hens have lost the ends of their toes and I've spent plenty of time cleaning up blood. I did however breed my first clutch in my avairy, but apart from Mum and Dad there was only one other budgie who was male and I didn't have any problems with it. I'd do what ever you feel comfortable with, and if you've havn't had trouble with it in the past... go for it.

I noticed on the other thread you've posted it looks like you've gone with the whole cage breeding. Good luck with your pieds, look forward to hearing of your purchases...

I noticed on the other thread you've posted it looks like you've gone with the whole cage breeding. Good luck with your pieds, look forward to hearing of your purchases...

 

JImmy

 

I am still exploring all options.

Just a note Derek I had 2 hens left inf my avairy ( breeders) waiting them to finish before I to the Cabients ....

While I was out they had a massive fight and have left each other battleed and brusied ( i am glad that dave spoke to Missylu while I was out) who advised him to seperate the hens ..... In saying so both birds are fine now babaies and eggs ........ But if no one was home who know what may have happened .... THANKS MISSYLU xxx

Edited April 5, 200817 yr by Neat