breeding finches
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Hannes
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- Posts: 38
- Joined: 09 Jun 2014, 07:16
- Location: South Africa
Hi, allot of my birds is starting to go to the nest. There is still 2 months before winter ends. I have GB waxbills in allot of my aviarys so i supply a small amount of mealworms every second day. Should i just leave them to breed?
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E Orix
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- Posts: 2740
- Joined: 29 May 2009, 23:30
- Location: Howlong on NSW/Vic Border 30km from Albury
- Location: Howlong NSW
The reason I restrict my birds from breeding at certain times is to protect the hen birds and not get frustrated having chicks
perish on leaving the nest.
You try to protect the hen birds from egg binding which is far more prevalent during cold weather.(Hence a hot box will aide an egg bound hen)
You want your birds well rested when the breeding season starts not to have your birds tired out when you want them to breed.
When it is cold and wet so many chicks struggle to survive their first few days after fledging so the hard working parents have wasted all their energy.
Birds feeding chicks in the colder months have to work so hard,firstly to eat enough to keep themselves fit and well but also because of the shorter
day light hours they must work harder to get enough food into their young. This is why you have small numbers fledging then 1 or 2 when in
breeding season 3 or 4+
You see it here in Australia, at the start of the breeding season the wanted to buy lists contain probably 70% requests for hen birds.
Most are for replacements for those lost while letting them breed through the winter months. Rarely do you see experienced breeding after hens for
several species. generally their request for hens is because they have bred an out of balance the previous season.
Note. If you find a pair of birds already sitting, let them go and hope the eggs are infertile. Should you remove the eggs then the female will most
likely lay again and go through the danger period of egg laying. If they do end up hatching the eggs help the breeding pair.
To answer you question simply,try and breed your birds during the breeding season. More success, less heart break.
perish on leaving the nest.
You try to protect the hen birds from egg binding which is far more prevalent during cold weather.(Hence a hot box will aide an egg bound hen)
You want your birds well rested when the breeding season starts not to have your birds tired out when you want them to breed.
When it is cold and wet so many chicks struggle to survive their first few days after fledging so the hard working parents have wasted all their energy.
Birds feeding chicks in the colder months have to work so hard,firstly to eat enough to keep themselves fit and well but also because of the shorter
day light hours they must work harder to get enough food into their young. This is why you have small numbers fledging then 1 or 2 when in
breeding season 3 or 4+
You see it here in Australia, at the start of the breeding season the wanted to buy lists contain probably 70% requests for hen birds.
Most are for replacements for those lost while letting them breed through the winter months. Rarely do you see experienced breeding after hens for
several species. generally their request for hens is because they have bred an out of balance the previous season.
Note. If you find a pair of birds already sitting, let them go and hope the eggs are infertile. Should you remove the eggs then the female will most
likely lay again and go through the danger period of egg laying. If they do end up hatching the eggs help the breeding pair.
To answer you question simply,try and breed your birds during the breeding season. More success, less heart break.
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Hannes
- ...............................
- Posts: 38
- Joined: 09 Jun 2014, 07:16
- Location: South Africa
Thanks, 4 pairs of birds is allready on the nest. I will try to take out the eggs of the other birds not breeding. It have been hot for winter this last couple of weeks so that might have a influence.
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E Orix
- ...............................
- Posts: 2740
- Joined: 29 May 2009, 23:30
- Location: Howlong on NSW/Vic Border 30km from Albury
- Location: Howlong NSW
As I said earlier,if the birds have already laid let them continue. If you take away their eggs then the females may try and
lay again and that is the danger period.
lay again and that is the danger period.