Light versus Dark??

[Ripley]

Hello All,

Last night I attended the Australian Finch Society's monthly meeting, and I was chatting with one of the old hands about breeding Gouldians. His observation is that Gouldians like to breed in a darker aviary, then an aviary that is really bright. He was telling me, that his best breeding season, was when he had four pairs in a relatively dark aviary. He is doing an experiment now, that he has four pairs in a light bright aviary and with eight nest boxes the birds have been fighting & eggs have been destroyed, nest boxes fought over etc, whereas, in a darker aviary, with two pair of birds, the birds are either sitting on eggs or feeding young, they seem to be alot calmer.

Has anyone else out there experienced this, or is it a one off?

Cheers,
Ripley

[Tintola]

That is not a scientific experiment as he should have every aspect the same apart from the light factor. Four pairs cannot be compared to two pairs.

[Ripley]

Hi tintola,

I agree with your reasoning it is not a scientific experiment....I guess I could have used a better word...But I still think it's a valid observation...

Cheers,
Ripley

[Misso]

Hi tintola,

I agree with your reasoning it is not a scientific experiment....I guess I could have used a better word...But I still think it's a valid observation...

Cheers,
Ripley

if the gentleman put 2 pairs in the light aviary i am sure he would see the same results as the dark, i think as Tintola has said its the number of pairs making the difference not the light dark factor ( would be interesting to hear if he does same number pairs next time and reports results )

[AMCA26]

I have pairs in boxes out under Clear laserlite and have bred well. No problems here 2 and 3 pairs in the aviaries.

[gouldianpaul]

Hi Ripley,

The memo regarding dark avairies has not made it's way to my Gouldians this year...In my set-up I have several clear section of roof plus i have fluro lights going most of the day....early mornings my avairy is well light up...and my birds have done really well this year.

I agree with Tintola and Misso...2 pairs in an avairy is most likely the problem....I have most of my avairies with 3 pairs with no problems...in fact the best results have come from my largest avairy with 5 pairs....In the one avairy that had 2 pairs 1 cock dominated the other resulting in no nesting...throw in another pair and all 3 settled down to nest.

But as another AFF member keeps telling me...what works for you may not work for everyone...just keep trying to vary your approach a little until you find the right formula for you.

Cheers
Paul

[Tintola]

The birds' natural habitat is full sun, all day in 30 degree heat. The nearer we can get to that the better they will do, as their evolution can't be changed within a couple of generations.

[jusdeb]

Blame the port for this question but is it possible that just like humans individual birds may have a preference for either light or dark ...

[Tintola]

Give them the choice and see which they seek out. A sunny aviary almost always has some shady areas to escape the sun. That is not always the case with a shady aviary.

[jusdeb]

Good point .