will this work?

[Jayburd]

Hi everyone,

I came up with this idea recently, and am wondering if it work:
ROTATIONAL BREEDING

You have a pair of birds (Example: Blue caps) that cannot be housed as 2pr per aviary in breeding season, as they will be too busy fighting to nest.
Therefore, keeping them (both pairs) in the aviary in winter, removing one pair in spring - early summer, then removing other pair from early summer -end of autumn, at which time they other pair is reintroduced.
Basically, you have 2 pairs, both in an aviary, take one out for the first part of the breeding season, then take the other pair (the one breeding in the aviary), and any fledgelings they have, and putting in the second pair to breed.
Would it work?

[shox]

jayburd,

Will work. Will prolong the life of the hen, but what you probable find that may only get one clutch each per pair as there mating habits change.

[Diane]

......and of course because you want to only breed one pair at a time you might find the other pair will start nesting in the other aviary regardless of whether you want them to or not. Unless you are going to keep the pair "resting" separate

[Jayburd]

Like the prolonging life idea. If they breed in different cages, I'm sure as hell not gonna stop them but only if they actually lay.
I only need one clutch a year, if I get that I'm happy, if I get a clutch from each, I'm in heaven!
Breeding Blue Caps, well, If you can get them breeding consistently, then you deserve your lemonade!! (would say beer, but can't drink yet )

[jusdeb]

Hmmmm they may take too long to settle into the new environment thus costing you breeding time and they wont breed like clockwork so it will be hard to determine how long to keep each pair in the aviary .
Sounds like your making a rod for your back here , good idea in theory but not so practical in that birds will do the wild thing when they are ready .
Doesn't mean don't try it coz heaven knows you may be onto something that works and we could learn from your trials . Good luck with it.