Hey guys,

 

I've had a bit of problem with my limited budgie resources. (FYI: I have 8 budgies, and all of 2 breeding cages.)

 

 

After lots of Santa Management (making lists and checking twice), I paired my best 2 birds together (Grey Cock, Light Green Cin Hen) according to my plan, as well as a solid second pair. Very excited !!! Twice as hopeful.

 

 

After what looked like a Mexican Cock fight, the two best ones I own settled down. The other pair got straight into it. No problems.

 

However day 4, the Grey cock had a nasty wound on his head, and rather than risk it, and I split them up. They clearly weren't getting on.

 

At this point its worth noting, all 8 budgies I own have kinda pair bonded, 4 hens, 4 cocks. Not surprisingly, the Grey Cock and LG Cin Hen were not a "natural" pair.

 

 

Two questions:

 

- How long do you give a pair before you cut and run, as they will either kill each other or just not get into it ?

- What can you do "ease" the process so I can get the 2 birds I want to breed with, without dramas ? Both went from the aviary into the box together. Both have breed successfully last year with different birds.

 

 

Help ? I'm a little desperate as I reckon its the last season for both the Grey (06) and the Hen (08) to breed.

 

Thanks in advance.

When I have birds like that I put them in a cage together without the nest box and watch them, I have left them there like that sometimes up to a week or two, they normally bond like that and if they still don't bond I don't pair them together.

Sounds like the hen is not interested in him .

Well Stew I can tell you from personal experience that sometimes the best laid plans do not pan out no matter how much time and effort you have put into it!

 

That being said yes, when you put 2 birds together that have not previously bonded you need to watch them very carefully for at least the 1st 30 mins. It is not so bad if the hen ignores the cock bird at first BUT if she is actively aggressive it is wise to remove either one and reconsider the pairing. It is not unheard of for a hen to mutilate the cock and in some cases if it is a young bird he never confidently approaches another hen again.

 

As for waiting for a pair to bond I think it comes down to how long you are prepared to wait though if both are in condition and nothing has happened after 3 weeks then you could think about changing them.

 

Because you only have 2 cabinets I would remove both birds as sometimes a hen can become territorial about a cabinet and ivew a new cock bird adversely.

Hey guys,

 

I've had a bit of problem with my limited budgie resources. (FYI: I have 8 budgies, and all of 2 breeding cages.)

 

 

After lots of Santa Management (making lists and checking twice), I paired my best 2 birds together (Grey Cock, Light Green Cin Hen) according to my plan, as well as a solid second pair. Very excited !!! Twice as hopeful.

 

 

After what looked like a Mexican Cock fight, the two best ones I own settled down. The other pair got straight into it. No problems.

 

However day 4, the Grey cock had a nasty wound on his head, and rather than risk it, and I split them up. They clearly weren't getting on.

 

At this point its worth noting, all 8 budgies I own have kinda pair bonded, 4 hens, 4 cocks. Not surprisingly, the Grey Cock and LG Cin Hen were not a "natural" pair.

 

 

Two questions:

 

- How long do you give a pair before you cut and run, as they will either kill each other or just not get into it ?

- What can you do "ease" the process so I can get the 2 birds I want to breed with, without dramas ? Both went from the aviary into the box together. Both have breed successfully last year with different birds.

 

 

Help ? I'm a little desperate as I reckon its the last season for both the Grey (06) and the Hen (08) to breed.

 

Thanks in advance.

This is probably not going to help you as you don't have enough cabinets or birds,but i will tell you what i did with a troublesome pair that i really wanted to get something from.The particular pair i am talking about wanted nothing to do with each other ,they sat on separate perches ,he would attack her and visa versa.They where half brother & sister from one of my good cocks and i was determined to get them to breed,here is what i did,i have eighteen breeding cabinets ,so basically cabinet nine is right in the middle of all the breeding action ,this is the cabinet i placed the troublesome hen "for three weeks on her own",when i introduced the cock it was like love at first sight, they are currently raising three of there chicks.

Edited September 21, 201113 yr by PJI

LOL that works too Phill, by the time you put the cock in the hen was desperate. lol

Thanks guys.

 

Tried the Grey Cock with another hen, and although a maiden hen, isn't interested either. I gave them 10 days and nothing looked to be happening.

 

So:

 

- I've put the Light Green Cin Hen in with her preferred Cock, and I reckon I'll have an egg within 4 days !!! They bred last year, so didn't want any more from this pair...

 

- I've put the Grey cock back in the flight, but sadly he has resumed his bond to my only pet type hen. Gutted. These two bred well last year, but no quality of note....

 

 

Further question:

 

- Has anyone had any luck switching the cock bird just prior to the hen laying a second round ? I think you can see where I'm going with this.... Any chance the chicks will be of questionable parentage doing this ?

Stew I use certain cock birds over several hens. I am about to give one boy his third consecutive hen in the next few days. Like others suggest I leave a nestbox attached to the cage and leave the hen for about 5 or 6 days then introduce the cock bird who is usually greated at first sight by a willing little floosie with an arched back, but sometimes it takes a couple of days. As long as the hen is exploring the nestbox she will usually take him.

 

As for switching cock birds prior, I usually let her lay her round and put another hen in a breeding cage after the original hen lays her third egg. When the original hen looks like she is finished and I am a happy that the eggs are fertile then I give him a new hen.

 

If you want to use that hen however you need to pull the cock out when the chicks are 5 weeks old or so and let her finish them off otherwise she will lay again. Only introduce a new cock when all the chicks are gone or he will usually attack the chicks.