Any tips for an "uninterested" pair

Includes Species Profile
User avatar
lardles
...............................
...............................
Posts: 46
Joined: 23 Jul 2010, 10:59
Location: Central Vic
Location: Central Victoria

Just wondering if anyone has some tips for a pair of siskens that dont appear to be showing any signs of breeding activitiy:

The are housed in a 3.5 x 1m x 2m high avairy by themselves.
Cock was bred by me, 18 mths old, hen purchased last year and I was told she is the about the same age (say 2 years).
Cock is signing madly, has been for months
Plenty of cover for them in the form of hanging baskets and plenty of fine grasses etc , plus grasses in pots growing.
Fed niger and crushed sunflower plus milk thistle, seeding grasses as much as possible. Leb cucumber, cuttle fish and grit.
have tried them on mealworms but not interested

I have another pair in mixed collection who have already had two unsuccessful clutches, husbandry is the same, The pairs can hear but not see each other.

So this has got me wondering if anybody has any suggestions to get this pair in the mood?

Was thinking of perhaps adding antoher hen or feeding him oysters??
User avatar
desertbirds
...............................
...............................
Posts: 1318
Joined: 21 Nov 2010, 09:13
Location: Alice Springs

Are you sure its not the heat thats preventing breeding ?
User avatar
finches247
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Posts: 2546
Joined: 04 May 2011, 20:16
Location: Whangarei Northland New Zealand

Hi,Have you tried splitting them apart from each other.And then Repairing again.
User avatar
Finch_Breeder
...............................
...............................
Posts: 701
Joined: 25 Apr 2012, 11:00
Location: Adelaide, South Australia

brooksy wrote:You could try getting them in an avairy by themselves dim the lights, little soft music, red cordial (not wine) don't want them falling off the perch, and the rest should take care of it self :thumbup:
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Birds I own/have owned: Budgerigars, **Zebra Finches**, **Star Finches**, Canaries, Diamond doves... Rocky the Galah! & Cocky the Sulphur Crested 'too
-Mike-
User avatar
Brooksy
...............................
...............................
Posts: 508
Joined: 14 Mar 2010, 18:59
Location: Ocean Grove VIC

You could try getting them in an avairy by themselves dim the lights, little soft music, red cordial (not wine) don't want them falling off the perch, and the rest should take care of it self :thumbup:
User avatar
Tiaris
...............................
...............................
Posts: 3517
Joined: 23 Apr 2011, 08:48
Location: Coffs Harbour

Is it possible to put them in adjoining aviaries, side by side for a couple of weeks?
User avatar
lardles
...............................
...............................
Posts: 46
Joined: 23 Jul 2010, 10:59
Location: Central Vic
Location: Central Victoria

thanks guys, I can put them in adjoining aviaires for a period of time, I will try that, cheers,
User avatar
finchbreeder
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Posts: 11489
Joined: 27 Jun 2009, 20:00
Location: Midwest of West. Aust. Coast
Location: Midwest of West.Aust.Coast

Or if neither pair is being sucessful, or has been in the past. Swap mates. But obviously not if those laying are the parents of your last years young.
LML
LML
User avatar
Netsurfer
...............................
...............................
Posts: 380
Joined: 30 Jun 2010, 10:30
Location: Sydney, NSW

Might be just the environment. What do you have in the aviary, how many nests and is there any cover (like pine tree branches, artificial greenery, shade-cloth drapes etc) around the nests? The diet is OK! Often helps if the two pairs can see each other.
Last edited by Netsurfer on 23 Jan 2013, 07:23, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Tiaris
...............................
...............................
Posts: 3517
Joined: 23 Apr 2011, 08:48
Location: Coffs Harbour

Red Siskin breeding usually is down to the keenness of the cockbird more than anything else. He needs to be jumping out of his skin and whistling regularly to show that he is keen to breed. As netsurfer said being in sight of another male may spark some enthusiasm as they tend to be competitive/territorial during the breeding season. That's why I suggested putting the pair side-by-side - to spark up his eagerness.
Post Reply

Return to “Red Siskin”