Male Goudians not courting
Posted: 30 Mar 2020, 01:32
Hi
Among my Gouldians I have several red-headed males who will court all year, pretty well from the minute they wake up every morning. I have others, more likely black-headed who court regularly perhaps a little less frequently than their red-headed counterparts, but certainly successfully. I understand this variation is explained by biological differences. However I have two males, both well over twelve months of age, who don't seem at all interested in courting. One is red-headed and the other is yellow-headed.
The red-headed male is in a large suspended cage with two hens. I did have another male but despite early intervention and a trip to the vet lost him to an unknown respiratory disease. He certainly did not have air sac mites or intestinal parasites as my birds are on a very regular preventative medication regime. And I often take the opportunity to head out and listed to my birds at night for any early signs. The hens in the aviary look very healthy and one in particular is showing all the signs of wanting to breed. There is a pair of Double-barred Finches in the cage and they are happy and healthy.
The yellow-headed male is in another large suspended aviary with a yellow-headed hen and some black-headed pairs which are nesting or going to nest. Last season the yellow-headed hen helped feed the babies of another hen. I don't believe she has chosen a black-headed male this season. There is also another black-headed hen which hasn't paired up yet either. There is still an unpaired black-headed male in his firsts season serenading the singles but I would really like the yellow-headed pair to breed. I'd separate them if I thought it might make a difference but her man just looks asexual.
My birds have a quality grain mix, kale, daily additions of unripe grass heads (green panic and guinea grass) and egg and biscuit mix. Beyond mood music and low lighting, what else might I add to pique their interest.
Cheers
Michael
Among my Gouldians I have several red-headed males who will court all year, pretty well from the minute they wake up every morning. I have others, more likely black-headed who court regularly perhaps a little less frequently than their red-headed counterparts, but certainly successfully. I understand this variation is explained by biological differences. However I have two males, both well over twelve months of age, who don't seem at all interested in courting. One is red-headed and the other is yellow-headed.
The red-headed male is in a large suspended cage with two hens. I did have another male but despite early intervention and a trip to the vet lost him to an unknown respiratory disease. He certainly did not have air sac mites or intestinal parasites as my birds are on a very regular preventative medication regime. And I often take the opportunity to head out and listed to my birds at night for any early signs. The hens in the aviary look very healthy and one in particular is showing all the signs of wanting to breed. There is a pair of Double-barred Finches in the cage and they are happy and healthy.
The yellow-headed male is in another large suspended aviary with a yellow-headed hen and some black-headed pairs which are nesting or going to nest. Last season the yellow-headed hen helped feed the babies of another hen. I don't believe she has chosen a black-headed male this season. There is also another black-headed hen which hasn't paired up yet either. There is still an unpaired black-headed male in his firsts season serenading the singles but I would really like the yellow-headed pair to breed. I'd separate them if I thought it might make a difference but her man just looks asexual.
My birds have a quality grain mix, kale, daily additions of unripe grass heads (green panic and guinea grass) and egg and biscuit mix. Beyond mood music and low lighting, what else might I add to pique their interest.
Cheers
Michael