What do you think of this theory?

[cranberry]

Is it possible that introducing birds into an aviary that show a readiness to breed may stimulate the other birds in the aviary to do the same? Does such a phenomenon exist or is it a pipe dream?

E.g. it's a well known fact that zebs breed like rabbits so can their introduction stimulate say Gouldians for example (maybe a bad example as zebs are rather pushy but you know what I mean).

[Mattyboy]

Perhaps.
Colony breeding of the same species certainly spurs the other pairs on.

[Will_36]

Tend to agree.Maybe a colony of the same species as male fighting over
females will usually get things going.
All my mixed aviary's that I've had they pretty much breed in their own cycles.
Just my thoughts.

[Mickp]

if the zebs did stimulate the gouldians it wouldnt help as there would be no nests left for the gouldians. the feathered mice would have claimed the lot

[cranberry]

Feathered mice. LOL! Good one Mick.

[jusdeb]

Might just kick in the instinct to guard territory and hens which may kick in the mating instinct ....who knows how the male mind works just joshin ya ...big chance introducing newbies could set thing off , Id believe it.

[jusdeb]

feathered mice

[mickw]

Its certainly been done to help a sensitive bird (or species) to settle.......Pretty sure they used Redheads to help settle Beautiful firetails in the early 1980's CSIRO trials

Its also been done with Orange bellied Parrots......i think they used aviary-bred Rock parrots to help the wild-caught Orange-bellieds to settle and ultimately, to breed

In both instances, they used allied species, ie a species which frequently interacts with the more difficult species

But the best way for alot of species would be as Mattyboy suggests.......build up your numbers and let them select their own partners.......within the group, there would be at least one pair with a strong will to breed which might stimulate the others