A couple of months ago I paired up 2 of my best birds.

 

The hen has a history of being very particular about her mate but I was determined to put her to one of my best cocks. As I expected she took her time to take to him but within a few weeks they bonded.

 

To my chagrin over the past 4 weeks she produced one solitary egg (fertilised) and then chucked it after a week. She was spending a lot of time in the nest box but not showing anything for it...

 

I despaired of her and started considering that she just wasn't going to breed anymore. She is 2½ years old and last year's breeding hadn't been spectacular, maybe she had an ovarian infection? ... I had given all my birds a 6 weeks course of psittacosis to clear up chlamydia infections ... surely that couldn't be it?

 

In passing I mentioned their case to my local vet on Wednesday. He smiled very broardly and suggested I try them in an alternate cabinet. His theory being that sometimes the hens don't feel secure enough in their nest box and need a change of scenery.

 

Low and behold as soon as I transferred them yesterday the cock bird started strutting the perch and she got a dopey look on her face.

 

And this morning there's an egg in the nest box!

That egg would have been in the works before yesterday though wouldn't it?

That egg would have been in the works before yesterday though wouldn't it?

 

Don't know how long it takes to form an egg. I wouldn't have thought longer than 24hrs ... The main thing is that she has finally laid one again!

Sounds like she is happier in that box regardless of how long the egg took to form ( I think it is more like ten days), hopefully she doesn't throw the eggs out this time.

Sounds like she is happier in that box regardless of how long the egg took to form ( I think it is more like ten days), hopefully she doesn't throw the eggs out this time.

 

She can't, well I'm pretty certain she won't be able to. It's a deep nest box attached to the front of the cabinet.

Fingers crossed for a successful clutch then :hap:

Sounds like she is happier in that box regardless of how long the egg took to form ( I think it is more like ten days), hopefully she doesn't throw the eggs out this time.

 

She can't, well I'm pretty certain she won't be able to. It's a deep nest box attached to the front of the cabinet.

Good luck with her this time Renee. Hopefully she will be happier in new surroundings. I have the deep nestboxes attached to the front but they manage to throw them out as well if they are so inclined.