I have a large aviary and have not put any breeding boxes in. I have found a female sitting on eggs under a small log. Should I move Her. Should I put boxes in. David

Edited October 10, 200816 yr by Neat

Do you know how old the hen is by any chance?

Just because of one hen with eggs is no reason to put nestboxes in. It can be a recipe for disaster. If you have any birds in there younger than 12 months it will be an invitation for them to breed too young. What is called colony breeding is the most hazardous form of breeding there is. See this article.....

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...&artlang=en

 

You can try removing the hen to a nestbox in a cage but moving a hen mid nesting can means she will abandon.

The reason she is breeding is you have something in the aviary that she sees as a place to lay eggs and have babies. If you dont want that you must think like a breeding budgie and remove all possible nesting sites.

Here's hoping your hen is older than 12 months and younger than 4 yrs which is the best breeding age for budgies. To encourage breeding in any younger than 12 months ( by design or accident ) is asking for trouble. Its affects their health and growth and also they arent good parents under 12 months.

If you were to decide to put nestboxes in your aviary for the others ( as too late for this one now ....may as well leave her where she is ) you need to be very very sure every bird in their is between 12 months and 4 years. You also need twice as many nestboxes as pairs and you need to watch them closely for fights. BUT read that article and it will help. Colony breeding is NOT the way to go. Enjoy your birds in the aviary, pull out pairs and cabinet breed the ones you want to or like.

Hope this helps

 

and welcome

Edited October 10, 200816 yr by Neat

How many birds are in that aviary? ....

 

I breed 2 pairs in one as these hens get stressed if placed into cabinets. But like Kaz said. You need at a minimum 2 times the amount of boxes per hen more is better ....

 

 

Good luck

Just because of one hen with eggs is no reason to put nestboxes in. It can be a recipe for disaster. If you have any birds in there younger than 12 months it will be an invitation for them to breed too young. What is called colony breeding is the most hazardous form of breeding there is. See this article.....http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...&artlang=enYou can try removing the hen to a nestbox in a cage but moving a hen mid nesting can means she will abandon. The reason she is breeding is you have something in the aviary that she sees as a place to lay eggs and have babies. If you dont want that you must think like a breeding budgie and remove all possible nesting sites. Here's hoping your hen is older than 12 months and younger than 4 yrs which is the best breeding age for budgies. To encourage breeding in any younger than 12 months ( by design or accident ) is asking for trouble. Its affects their health and growth and also they arent good parents under 12 months. If you were to decide to put nestboxes in your aviary for the others ( as too late for this one now ....may as well leave her where she is ) you need to be very very sure every bird in their is between 12 months and 4 years. You also need twice as many nestboxes as pairs and you need to watch them closely for fights. BUT read that article and it will help. Colony breeding is NOT the way to go. Enjoy your birds in the aviary, pull out pairs and cabinet breed the ones you want to or like.Hope this helps and welcome

there are 7 birds they are all between 1 and 4 years. There are eggs on the floor the seed bowl and under a piece of wood. I was not going to breed this year but is seems the budgies have other ideas. David PS the cage is about 3.5 m 2

Hi and welcome... I'd be asking myself if I want to breed, and am I ready. If I answered yes to both of these questions, I would probably move her, her eggs and her partner to a breeding cage. I know there is a risk she will leave her eggs, but I believe if she if left to have them on the ground in an aviary with other budgies... you are asking for trouble. At least this way you'd give yourself the best chance of it working... If she does leave them... so be it. As you said you weren't planning on breeding this year... I am not a fan of colony breeding and therefor only cabinet breed. Good luck with what ever you decide to do.

I agree 100% with everyone else. And learned the hard way about colony breeding. I would not recomend it. If you want let them breed and nest, pair them off into breeding cages. Allowing the breeding and nesting in the aviary can lead to fights and destruction of eggs by other hens (with or with out nesting boxes). The best chance for them is the safety of a breeding cage and nest box.

 

Do you know who the mates are? Is it just one hen that has laid all the eggs you are speaking of? Do you have the room or homes for the bubs once they are fledged?

I once had this situation, and I had to play "mean god"

 

Not only did I remove the eggs and dispose of them, I double cheked the avairy and removed any opportunities they had for laying eggs.

 

These days, I get inexperienced hens dropping eggs from perches,but no laying of eggs

Edited October 10, 200816 yr by KAZ