Is this normal?

[Redwing]

It's freezing cold here, keep looking on the floor of my aviary first thing each morning to make sure everyone has made it through the night and my orange breasted pair have decided to build a nest today! Also think my Gouldians are sitting. They have been taking it in turns in their nest box for the last couple of days, but the male is still taking bits of grass in. To top it off, my stars who have had a nest built for a couple of weeks have just decided to get a bit protective of it although not actually sitting in it. Shouldn't they all be waiting until this cold snap is passed at least if not for spring?

[Jayburd]

there re some birds (like gouldians) that breed in winter.

I'm not sure about the OB's though.

[jusdeb]

Who knows what sets them off ... some believe rain will trigger parrots into breeding mode .

[Jayburd]

yeah, I think that's right with some Australian and african finches... they have to be ready to go whenever the rain brings the grass heads up...

[spanna]

ive got a whole load of birds going to nest as well. all are australians, and im in the same freezing cold weather as you too. surprised me too. got painteds, masks, stars and diamonds, and my pair of gouldians have been looking for a while too. strange, but good. just been doing my best to keep the aviaries warm and dry!

[Diane]

the OB in my main aviary are sitting on eggs, and the emblemas, the ruddies are getting protective over an area in the aviary too. Just wish I could get the gouldians to do the same, they are too busy nosing in and out of the boxes at the moment. At least its a step in the right direction. The YH gouldians in the smaller aviary and the BFPF are both sitting on eggs again.

[Pete Sara]

if you have a look where most of your birds originate from , it would be their natural breeding season right now thats why they try to breed in our current cold climate of perth......pete

[VR1Ton]

I agree with Poitta on this one, most of the southern & arid climate species tend to start around August, when most of the rain has fallen so grasses are starting to grow and seed will follow in the Spring. More tropical species tend to breed December onwards when most of the rain occurs. Most softbills are starting to breed this time of year, so as it warms up there is a more plentiful food supply so the earlier they start, the more chance of double clutching. But as this season is a little cooler than recent years, and good rainfall over a large area, they may be starting to nest now, thinking its going to warm up shortly (sure as hell hope anyway).

[cranberry]

Like you, I check the aviary floor every morning for deaths. So far so good. I have 2 pairs of Gouldians with chicks, another pair building a nest. My other finches (Painteds, Stars and Red Faced Parrot) are too busy enjoying their new surrounds. Too early for my canaries and Bourkes. Budgies are breeding like rabbits. I have my doubts if I have a true pair of Red Faced. I suspect they are both cocks.

[gomer]

I think its a finch breeders thing,First look at the floor then the birds.I found two dead today doing a catch up on move around.One I could only identify it by the ring colour and number.