need advice on breeding Major Mitchells...

[spanna]

Hey gang

I know a few of you out there keep parrots/cockatoos, so was just hoping for some advice on breeding my new pair

I have an old log in there that we made a hollow in with a chainsaw, so it is literally a square nest about 45cm deep, 30 by 30cm wide and sits on the floor, about 1.2 metres tall. made from some kind of eucalypt... maybe lemon scented? can't remember. was put in a number of years ago basically for something for the lone cockbird to chew on!!
BUT, the other day i saw the boy, Mitch, sitting inside the log chewing at it and dropping the "shavings" inside... there are quite a few at the bottom now. then this morning i saw the hen, Tish, having a look inside...

my questions are:
1) do i need to find another nest log and hang it up off the floor?
2) is the nest deep enough?
3) do i need to put anything inside it for them?
4) should i let them breed at any time of year, or try and stop them now and wait til spring?

I have more questions, but they will wait for another post

thanks!!!

[Buzzard-1]

There doing everything right!! I put bentinite clay in the bottom to help with humidity that's about it, The first eggs fair chance they won't be any good but don't remove them.

[VR1Ton]

This is where they start to drive you mad, if they've started to work the log, leave as is, they will work the log for months at times, just begging you to check, then when you get up enough dutch courage to check, he'll hammer you (particularly with H/R). This is the begining of the season (May to Dec), but leave the nest with them at all times (apart from cleaning of coarse), as they work their log year round, & if replaced, may not go down for a couple of seasons till they accept it. My logs range from about 3' deep, & 20" wide placed vertically, 3' deep by 18"round place on a 40-45 deg angle, & about 4' deep & 12" round placed on a 30 deg angle. I have seen used logs from 2' through to nearly 5' long, 12" to 24" diametre, vertical or sloped on the floor to near the roof, no hard & fast rules, it just depends on the birds. If you use termites for your finches, break up a bit of empty mound & put in the bottom, give them plenty of gum branches to chew, they will quite often add some to the nest. Just keep an eye on the cock for aggression towards you & the hen, former preferable to the latter, so you may need to suit up before entering the cage

[jusdeb]

Lots of people have the logs on the floor of the aviary and the larger parrots dont seem to mind .
Sounds like they have got things worked out between themselves so just sit back and enjoy the show .

Might pay to start looking for protective gear though , I hear the boys can be very protective of their space once breeding commences .

Milk crates come in handy for isolating them for those times you need to be in the aviary .

[spanna]

might have to pull out the old cricket gear by the sounds of it!! both birds take peanuts, fruit, grasses etc out of my hand. even nibble on my finger gently, and sometimes not so gently, if i'm holding a bit of fruit for them. but as you say that may change when breeding time comes around!! might have to find a different spot for the seed if that is the case, currently right next to the log...

will throw some termite crumbles in the bottom, might also have a look around for a second nest log that is a bit deeper and hang it nearby. just a thought, the hen was bred by my neighbour, so would she be more inclined to go for a nest like she was raised in? said neighbour also has to use the washing basket as protection to get into the pink and greys cage to change seed!!

[jusdeb]

My Musk Lorries are bad enough . They stare me down then fly at me when I'm in their space . Can only imagine a MM having a hissy Id be terrified .

Good luck I hear cricket pads , skateboard pads , helmut and cup are used by friend of a friend to get into his MM aviary ..oh and the milk crate .

[VR1Ton]

Mine still take food from your fingers, then take your fingers for good measure . The bloke that had them before me couldn't get in the cage with them at any time, he would have to catch the cock in one net & leave it on the ground with a brick on the handle, & fend off the hen with another, just to feed them in the off season, didn't even try when nesting, would get next door to do it for him.

[spanna]

if worst comes to worst i'll cut a hole in the tin of the feed shed, which is just next door, and put in a revolving feeder!! that was my first thought when you all warned me of this!!

[jusdeb]

Good idea might have to do the same .

[finchbreeder]

This all pretty much tallies with what my folks had to do when they used to breed them, way back when. The rotating feeder sounds brilliant. And a wider log allows for more ease of raising more chicks if they are young and fertile. The folks hen was no spring chichen when she was aquired.
LML