New way of introducing boxes
Posted: 14 Mar 2013, 09:37
This Gouldian season I have started off the introduction in a very different way to previous years with (so far) great success. Thought others may wish to try it future.
In past years I have arbitrarily chosen a date which I felt suited the local climate & condition of the birds & just put all boxes in at that time.
This season I have waited until both members of each pair have shown obvious eagerness for the courtship ritual. Only when I have seen the hen obviously reciprocating the males advances have I put the nest boxes in for that pair. Some pairs had their boxes introduced earlier (as early as mid January) than usual and others have only very recently been given their's (much later than usual). I normally just put all in at mid-February.
So far it has resulted in 8 out of 9 single pairs commencing immediate nesting with full clutches of fertile eggs & the 9th pair have just started incubating after a few weeks of procrastination. I have 2 x 2pr colonies in small aviaries which were the last to get their boxes in each of these 1 pair nested immediately & the others followed about a week later (both these still laying). It was harder to detect all birds in sync in multi-pair colonies & I accept that this is the way most Gouldian breeders keep their birds.
In the last 2 weeks I've had the first 29 of my 1st round young fledge from 6 nests (1,4,5,6,6,7). The 1 was a pair which couldn't wait for the box & nested in a flimsy nest built in brush. I was particularly amazed that ALL first round eggs I've seen so far have been fertile which is very different to my typical 1st round experience when both members of the pair are not quite ready when they start their efforts for the year. This is by far my most promising start to a Gouldian season for many years & I'm happy to try this method of nestbox introduction again next year & others may wish to try it too.
In past years I have arbitrarily chosen a date which I felt suited the local climate & condition of the birds & just put all boxes in at that time.
This season I have waited until both members of each pair have shown obvious eagerness for the courtship ritual. Only when I have seen the hen obviously reciprocating the males advances have I put the nest boxes in for that pair. Some pairs had their boxes introduced earlier (as early as mid January) than usual and others have only very recently been given their's (much later than usual). I normally just put all in at mid-February.
So far it has resulted in 8 out of 9 single pairs commencing immediate nesting with full clutches of fertile eggs & the 9th pair have just started incubating after a few weeks of procrastination. I have 2 x 2pr colonies in small aviaries which were the last to get their boxes in each of these 1 pair nested immediately & the others followed about a week later (both these still laying). It was harder to detect all birds in sync in multi-pair colonies & I accept that this is the way most Gouldian breeders keep their birds.
In the last 2 weeks I've had the first 29 of my 1st round young fledge from 6 nests (1,4,5,6,6,7). The 1 was a pair which couldn't wait for the box & nested in a flimsy nest built in brush. I was particularly amazed that ALL first round eggs I've seen so far have been fertile which is very different to my typical 1st round experience when both members of the pair are not quite ready when they start their efforts for the year. This is by far my most promising start to a Gouldian season for many years & I'm happy to try this method of nestbox introduction again next year & others may wish to try it too.
