The pair I am currently trying to breed have been together for about 2 weeks now. They seem to be happy together and Samuel has been trying to do the right thing. The hen, Opal, doesn't seem too interested and I'm wondering if maybe the lady I got her from has mistaken her age and maybe she's a bit younger than the 12 months she told me. I've included a photo in the hope that someone would be able to confirm her age.

 

And this is Samuel and Opal's breeding set up. It seemed Billie and Oscar had no trouble with it and it was thoroughly washed before putting Samuel and Opal in it. It just seems to be taking them some time to get their act together, is this normal?

 

Thanks

Your hen is at least a year old or older. Here cere is at that stage where the crusty layer is about to peel away so she may be just past breeding condition.

I would have to agree with Kaz, on this mate. May have been bad timing ... When she is a soft nutmeg colour on her cere try again

She looks old enough. If she is taking no interest in the nest after about 3 weeks I'd be inclined to remove it for a couple of weeks then try again. Sometimes an isolated pair won't breed until another pair is put where they can see and hear them. Music playing often helps if the birds are slow to start breeding because budgies are flock birds and they don't like it to be too quiet

Edited September 4, 200816 yr by *libby*

Thanks so much, I'll remove the box and try again later. I'm glad to hear she's of age anyway. How long does it usually take for her to come back into breeding condition, is there like a set amount of time between conditioning or does it just happen when ever she feels the need?

And Neville thanks for your answer, but they are not really isolated, there's another cage probably 5 metres or so away from them and they can hear the inside birds as well as quite often through the day they all chat together. Maybe not isolated enough...ha ha.

That is a good question as I have had hens that seem like they are forever in CONDITION and I have hens that come and go every month or so .... I'd like to see the answer to that too

Edited September 4, 200816 yr by *libby*

Budgies breeding cycle peaks about every seven weeks

Okay it's now the end of October and I still have no action from Samuel and Opal. The nesting box was taken out not long after this post was started and I have now put it back about 2 weeks ago. I think it was out for approximately 4 or 5 weeks. But Opal is just not interested at all. When I first put it back she showed some interest even sticking her head in once. Now my question is could she possibly not want to lay in a previously used nest box? I thoroughly washed it before offering it to these birds. I don't know what to do to encourage them anymore. Should I buy a new nest box?

Her cere is probably similar now as when this post was started, just maybe not as dark.

Samuel is doing a lot of preening and feeding with her and they seem bonded but I've never seen them mate (not that I watch for it specifically :party0011: ). What can be wrong? Should I give up entirely and split them up?

Thanks and any help would be appreciated

Id love to hear that answer too. I am in the exact same position and I have never seen them mate either. But I do know they were breeding a good few months ago, but none hatched

It would have nothing to do with the nestbox being used or new.

Edited November 3, 200816 yr by KAZ

the only real thing I can see that I would change is possibly changing the perches so that they arn't on an angle but are both going from the front to the back and not crossed over like they appear to be... a change is as good as a holiday they say :yes:

Maybe offer her a second nest box of a slightly different shape so she has options :yes:

the only real thing I can see that I would change is possibly changing the perches so that they arn't on an angle but are both going from the front to the back and not crossed over like they appear to be... a change is as good as a holiday they say :star:

I agree with JB........the perches arent right for a breeding cage...........also how close is access to the nestbox from a perch ? and how stable is the nestbox ? Does it wobble at all ?

Hi there, okay I've taken on board all thats been said. Photos below. Let me know if there's anything else I can do. There is no wobble in nestbox, it's stable.

Should I take out the rope perch as well and leave them only the wood ones. I already removed the rope swing as Opal was spending all her time right up at the top of the cage only coming down to eat.

They get fresh leaves every few days and vegies every couple of days. Though Opal doesn't seem interested in her vegies.

I've just cleaned out their cage that's why it looks so empty.

One more question, why was the old set up okay for my breeding pair then but not okay for this pair now? Sorry if it's a silly question.

Thanks

One more question, why was the old set up okay for my breeding pair then but not okay for this pair now? Sorry if it's a silly question.

 

The straight answer is that when 2 birds are compatible and in breeding condition they will pair up, breed and raise chicks with few or no problems whatsoever.

 

But when you have a pair that won't do any of these things you go through a check list to see if by changing the conditions you can help them along. It's clutching straws sometimes. Occasionally it works, sometimes it doesn't.

 

What color and variety is Samuel? Please post pics so we can see if he's in condition.

Okay, Samuel is a green spangle and I think he's in condition as his cere is nice and blue.

Maybe these two are just not meant to be a couple. How long before I should give up?

could be the angle he is on but his cere doesn't seem to be bright or shiny enough -

 

A few questions ...

Have you got any other pairs either breeding or in another cage?

 

The nest box looks like it is on a slight angle in the photo? are you able to but like a shelf or something under it so that it is level?

 

Add tree clippings - ( Gum, bottle brush, hibiscus, grevilla or fruit) the gnawing of this will boost her into breeding condition ......

 

MB suggested another nest box ... Good idea ...

 

Have you check to see that there are no mice , roaches getting in there - as this can deter them ...

FRESH FOOD AND WATER daily will help boost too

 

Day light / Artificial lighting are they getting enough ?

Okay, Samuel is a green spangle and I think he's in condition as his cere is nice and blue.

Maybe these two are just not meant to be a couple. How long before I should give up?

I like the look of his cere.

 

You know it just could be that she doesn't like him. It happens more often than you could imagine.

 

How about you try putting him with another hen in a holding cage for a 2 day trial and see how the new pair interact?

 

If they get the jiggying going you will have your answer!

Edited November 5, 200816 yr by renee

Hi there, okay I tried your idea renee. I put samuel in with billie my retired budgie just to see if they would do anything. WELL....you know when you see the car rocking when a couple is getting friendly ...well that's what they're doing to the cage right now. Within 2 minutes (no kidding) billie presented herself and samuel literally went to town. Now I don't want babies with these two so I can just split them up again can't I?

So now that I know there's nothing wrong with Samuel it has to be Opal right.

Because going by the happy sounds coming from the cage I think samuel is a very randy little bird.

So now...what do I do?

I've never seen birds like this so I got the shock of my life.

Do I have time to get him another girlfriend and breeding before I should stop breeding for summer?

Thanks

Whats wrong with leaving her with Samuel ?

She's my retired one, she's too old. She's just gone 5.

She's my retired one, she's too old. She's just gone 5.

 

Gotcha

She's my retired one, she's too old. She's just gone 5.

 

Gotcha

 

Time for you to get Samuel a nice, nubile, new girlfriend!

A new girlfriend... yes, but you'll have to quarantine for 30 days, so they won't be able to start breeding until beginning of December... Good luck with what ever you decide... maybe put him back with his 'old' girlfriend... maybe he just needed a spark up??? If not... go for the newbie

Edited November 5, 200816 yr by KAZ

Hi there, okay I tried your idea renee. I put samuel in with billie my retired budgie just to see if they would do anything. WELL....you know when you see the car rocking when a couple is getting friendly ...well that's what they're doing to the cage right now.

 

So now that I know there's nothing wrong with Samuel it has to be Opal right.

 

All that you've established is that Opal and Samuel are not compatible.

 

You cannot say that it is Opal's fault if they don't like each other.

 

Again, if you put her with another cock in condition you may find that they get the jiggying going too ....

 

However, the fact that she is not showing any signs of interest in the nest box is a pretty certain indicator that she is not ready yet.

 

If you have another option, give it a go - Otherwise it's back to the drawing board and crossing off the checklist.

Edited November 5, 200816 yr by renee