what to do to promote breeding.

[lacosa]

our birds get broccoli, various grasses and soft food daily (as well as seed of course. What do I need to give them now to encourage them to breed? they have lots of brachs to hide and build nests in plus a hotel if they prefer, is there anything I am missing this time of year? we have cut throats, stars Cubans and bengelese.

[Craig52]

Its really not breeding season at this time of the year and you shouldn't be pushing them to breed,all you are doing is making them obese and when it does become breeding time (Spring time)your birds won't be interested in breeding except for maybe your bengo's. Craig

[finchbreeder]

Wait patiently, and make sure that when the time comes they have a wide selection of nests/sites from one end to the other of the avairy, high and low.
LML

[lacosa]

Yeah I don't want them breeding now sorry, should have worded that better, I ment more for when breeding time comes, I feed greens etc all year round, should I not be doing that this time of year? My birds would think their throats were cut if they didn't get their greens every couple of days...

[dano_68]

First of all, to get them into the mood, start with a sprouted seed mix.

Try an egg & biccy mix. Some will eat, other wont.

But the main thing is live food. Your Cut throats and Cubans will probably not breed without it

Use mealworms & maggots is best. Introduce slowly then build it up gradually over a 2-4 week period (for all special foods mentioned).

If you can get fresh, green (wild) seed heads then give them plenty every day. The sprouted seed and egg food should be in small quantities and replaced every day (for less than 10 birds - 1-2 tsp)

After 3 weeks, introduce nesting martial. Soft grasses and feathers, as well as nesting sites.

I have had Cutthroats use both wicker nests and nest boxes. I have never had them build their own nest in the brush. They will even take over old Parrot Finch nests in nest boxes.

If non of this works after 6 weeks in the breeding season, then you need to get new cock birds or hens.

[steveofincho]

I always supply live foods, greens and grits to my birds year round, in moderation mind you.
But I find that the simplest things set them off to breed are things like adding large quantities of nesting grasses of all sorts and sizes, emu feathers, white feathers, whole cuttlefish bones, crushed charcoal and baked egg shells .
Replacing them when they have been used/consumed is equally as important .
Adding more water bowls and feeding stations sometimes helps .
Sometimes even different sized/shaped nest boxes or moving them to another position in the aviary gets them going when they don't look interested .

[finchbreeder]

Something strange happening here, can't read the new post.
LML

[Hvfinchy]

With Cubans, i have had them for a cpl of years and have not fed them live food but they get fresh seed heads from Sept to when it finishes about April and they have bred well for me. I dont disturb them or try to look for nests. I grow wild panic in a fenced off area in my back yard. I will walk out there and see young birds sitting on the perch and most times didnt even know they had nested. I know they are down now as i saw them with nesting material a week or so ago. Where the nest is , i have no idea and will wait until the young fledge. My Bengos just do their own thing , i have a good colony of them and they are pleasure in their own aviary.They also get seed heads during the same time.

[finchbreeder]

Well I can read this post properly again, so don;t know what was up yesterday.
LML