I think I know the answer to this,

 

But before I go willy nilly deciding pairs for june I would like to know...

 

I know you leave a hen to rest for at least 6 months.

How long do you leave a cock to rest?

I hear of people giving them a week, or a month or sometimes that same time as a hen.

But Pie, the father of my last clutch (who has reached the 3 month milestone) is coming back into condition and bonding with some females already.

 

Oh, another question I would like to add to this...

 

>Does anyone have any suggesstions about what to do with a hen that won't interact with the cock?

Should I change cocks? Block the nest hole? (which I did with cardboard, but she chewed through it with no change)

Remove the nest for a bit?

 

I currently have 2 hens in different cabinets that won't interact. Both are in or coming into condition and the males sit on the perch singing all day long with bright blue ceres.

Edited May 29, 201114 yr by Maddy

I dont actually know the answer to how long for a cock to rest, I have just assumed the same period as the hens, as they do as much work with the feeding etc, the only difference is they dont lay the eggs. I will be interested to hear others views on this.

 

As for a hen not interacting with a cock - if it was me and I REALLY wanted something from the pairing, I would just leave them together for a while longer, usually, eventually if both birds are in condition, hormones take over. I put newspaper in my nest box holes if I think the hen needs some encouragement, that way the chewing it out makes her feel like she is "nesting" and brings on those hormones. Also, providing some gum tree leaves/branch for chewing can help because of the chewing again...... Good luck! I also look forward to other members advice on this subject

I covered the nest box hole with a bit of cardboard and she chewed right through it in a matter of days.

But now I see the cock singing to her while she's in there, and I have the suspicion that maybe she gets out when I'm not around.

 

I really want this pair to produce something as it has the same potential as one of my other pairs which are doing so well.

 

For the cocks rest time, I've been watching him closely, and he's come into full condition, grown all his feathers back from the moult, and has picked out a hen I would love to pair him too

He's nice and plump from having hulled oats that I feed the birds every week for winter, and so is she.

Quite honestly I don't go by any time scale. I will let the birds tell me when they are ready again. If it is a bird I wish to use again that is, otherwise he can just hang with the mob till breeding season.