How long does it take them to get used to the nest box if they have never seen it before.

Will they breed if they have lived with each other in the same cage for their whole lives? They are best friends

they may be too old/young

 

are they fefinately male and female?

 

What sort of breeding environment do you have?

The female is 3 years 9 mths and the male is 2 years old. They are definately male and female. The female has a rough brown cere and the male has a smooth purple and blue cere. They are in a large cage that is about 1m long, 60cm deep and 80cm high. they have a nest box of proportions 8" by 9" by 6". They are both very healthy.

I would say 3 years 9 months is too old for a first clutch. A lot of breeders say don't breed over the age of 3 and some say 4 but i think most would agree that 3 years 9 months is too old for a first time hen.

I'll leave it there, and let them decide. I've also read else where that over 5 is the age one shouldn't breed at. I guess it is down to experience and opinion.

Any success yet Sailor?

for a hen is is 3-4 years (most say three) and for a male it is 6 years.

 

As to your first question since it's their first time you may have to wait for a month before they are happy to work out what it is all about.

Becareful that your hen does not get egg bound or have a rupture at that age, being a first timer..

Edited September 16, 200519 yr by Lady

I doubt that she will have eggs now at her age. It could take a very long time for them to start working the nestbox. It took mine over 6 months before they finally laid their first eggs with the boxes on the cage. They were going in it after awhile, I don't remember how long, but it took them forever to start laying eggs. Then when I added the box up for a second clutch they took right to them.

They've started to moult now, so I think it will be a while before they think of starting.

By the time the female molts and gets into this egg laying business she's going to be 4 years old!

 

Maybe it would be best to start with a pair that is around a year old instead? It seems a bit risky and if you "let them decide" they'll only be going on instinct. They don't know that it could be fatal. As the owner, you have to decide what's best.

Edited September 23, 200519 yr by eterri

It's a hard discision to make.

 

I would look at geting a younger female. Quarrantine her for a month and then try to mate her with the young male. But thats what I would do.

I don't think it's all that difficult a decision but maybe I'm just looking at it the wrong way.

 

From my perspective, this is an option not a necessity. Breeding this older hen has a possibility of causing problems that might even be fatal. This would be enough reason for me to scrap it completely. To breed an older bird seems a little selfish as it's taking a chance with the hen's well-being. If this were some sort of life-saving surgery it would be a difficult decision.

 

If the poster is really wanting to breed for the right reasons then starting with a fresh pair makes all the more sense. In my opinion, at least.

Edited September 23, 200519 yr by eterri

I don't think it's all that difficult a decision but maybe I'm just looking at it the wrong way.

 

From my perspective, this is an option not a necessity. Breeding this older hen has a possibility of causing problems that might even be fatal. This would be enough reason for me to scrap it completely. To breed an older bird seems a little selfish as it's taking a chance with the hen's well-being. If this were some sort of life-saving surgery it would be a difficult decision.

 

If the poster is really wanting to breed for the right reasons then starting with a fresh pair makes all the more sense. In my opinion, at least.

i may be a bit late for this one, but hey, that's better than nothing.

 

When i first offered the nest box to bobette, she wasn't interested in them At all. She didn't even went in there - just completely ignore them. That when she did the nest in the ceiling.

 

But she knew what nesting material was - she kept stealing on raffia, and forraging into the moss, and cooton balls, and coconut fiber, and grass, and straws igive the finches for their nest buiding.

 

So i put nesting material into that nest. And i lest a big part of it peepping through the hole.

 

She didn't use it - the material, they never do - they just chew on mood to make the hole and take their feathers...

 

But the material leaning out of it attracted her attention as to what was the purpose of the box. Quickly enough, she went in it, explored it, and cleaned it of any astranged material. And she understood the purpose and the nest, finally.

 

Hope that helps a bit.

I took the nest box away. I think that Saffron is just a little too old to be having babies

I think you made the right choice. Are you planning of getting a younger hen to breed with or are you just going to leave it?

I'm gonna leave it. I bought them a new play gym the other day and lots of new toys. They are a little scared of the bright colors but they are getting used to it.

I think it's great that you're not going to breed them at that age. It's awesome that you're introducing them to new toys and such! I'm sure they're very grateful. (At least they will be once they get comfortable with the new stuff. )