Aussie Finch Forum

Hi
Setting up an aviary for gouldians as a colony
Could any one recomend the ration of cocks to hens
Thanks

Depends on the size. I usually run 2 to 3 spare hens as some may die. Mire cocks equals more trouble

thanks
running 4 extra hens at the moment
Which have been showing interest in nests but havent mated wasnt sure if i need a 1 to 1 ratio
Would the cock mate with multiple hens at the same time?

elferoz777 wrote:Depends on the size. I usually run 2 to 3 spare hens as some may die. Mire cocks equals more trouble

Why is it that hens die so much more frequently than cocks?

Egg binding, stress due to laying or other issues....also hens are harder to find most of the time so its typical bad luck that they seem to croak first.

Seeing Documentaries about birds in the wild, especially about Wrens it was proven that the hen wren had at least mated with 3 different cock birds.
If it works in the wild it work in our Aviaries.

Wirla wrote:thanks
running 4 extra hens at the moment
Which have been showing interest in nests but havent mated wasnt sure if i need a 1 to 1 ratio
Would the cock mate with multiple hens at the same time?

The rule of thumb has always been an extra cock bird to a colony of gouldians as some hens just won't mate with some cock birds.98% of times gouldians mate in the nest box,how do you know they haven't mated. Craig

I agree with Craig.
Usually I have a slight excess of cockbirds.
Also I don't find Gouldian hens any more fragile than cockbirds. Look after them and you will get several decent
breeding seasons from them all.

I work on equal sexs by preference but on the odd occassion a spare bird. The number of birds to size of avairy is the most important consideration but.
LML

Thanks to every one for there info
My aviary is 3.7m by 1.0m wide by 2.1m high
what would be an ideal number to house
i can also set it up as 3 sections or is it ideal to leave it as one big aviary
Cheers