I have been reading the forum and books i have on budgies and there seems to be different ideas of when to put a hen into the breeding cabinet. Some information i read says when their cere is crusty brown and some information says when it is tan and starting to go brown. I know what a hens cere looks like in condition but i do not know when the cere is tan if it is coming out of condition or going into condition? When is the ideal time to put a hen into the cabinet?

I put mine in when the cere is light brown/Tan brown. She will come into condition within the first week.

Some people say put them in when their cere is dark brown, which I dont understand because a hen's breeding cycle is 7 weeks right? So if you put her in when shes already been in condition for a while then chances are she will go out of condition before even laying eggs.

7 weeks? I thought an experienced breeder said that budgies cycle every 21 days?

 

I say when the cere is a tan, or even a little before that. Dark brown or custy means that the hen is coming to the end of her cycle.

The crusty brown part of the cere will fall off and leave to revele the whitish blue colour. when a hen is losing condition she does not go tan.

Tan is going back into condition... Will try get photos as i have hens in all conditions at the moment

Thanks for explaining it to me, photos would be appreciated as well.

I read that the cycle is 7 weeks.

Hen who's just about to lose her crusty cere (notice its raised and very dark)

 

Hen who's brown crsty part of the cere has freshly fallen off. notice there is still a little in the middle

 

Hen out of condition, possibly in the early stages of starting to colour up

 

Hen coming back into condition (great time to put in cabinet)

 

Perfect condition for breeding (she is going into a cabinet tomorrow )

 

Good condition too - here cere is dark, but its still nice and smooth

 

perfect condition on this hen too

 

 

 

I think thats covered them...

Edited February 27, 200916 yr by **Liv**

Posted By Neville on Jan 12 2009.

 

Some hens are in condition most of the time but breeding condition peaks about every 42 days

 

You can find the post here: http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....=Breeding+cycle

Cere colour is not the only indication that hen is ready for breeding. The hen must be active and eager, and seeking cock birds. I have in my flight a piece of wood mounted with a number of holes drilled to replicate a nest box opening. I can tell which hens are looking to breed by the activity around this area of the flight. I also believe that there is a great variance in breeding cyles of both Hens and Cocks. I've had cock birds that only breed at a certain time of year. I know they say 6- 8 week, but each bird is different.