Better than viagra?

17 Jan 2011, 14:07

What do you do when birds are past their prime but you need them? In my case I've got one of the last "breeding" pairs of diamond sparrows left in the Philippines but they suffer from very low fertility (they are siblings). In the last year I've only raised one youngster (which I gave to someone who had a spare cock - on the proviso that if he was successful I would get a pair back). My hen only lays 2 eggs/clutch but mostly her eggs are clear so my cock bird is stuffed and the guy I gave the new hen with has similar experience with low male fertility). What is the best method of managing the situation? I need to breed at least at replacement level before these birds die of old age. Would swapping cocks make a difference if we both are trying with sibling pairs - i.e. could it be a genetic incompatibility rather than low fertility per se? My birds get the best food of any finches in the Philippines but it doesn't seem to help. In fact my hen sat for so long last year she didn't moult and her feather condition is terrible so I've had her separated on short rations for 8 weeks trying to get her to moult but to no avail. Her mate continues to build nests in the main aviary for the exercise I suppose! There are "wonder supplements" such as Fertivit (http://www.oropharma.com/NUTRI/Nutritio ... &pro=18929) available over here to increase fertility but do these work? I tried it for a while and figured I was wasting my money but I'm getting desperate even a 2% increase in fertility might be significant. What can I do?

17 Jan 2011, 16:49

I don't surpose you have thought of hitting the person you gave your young hen to up for an exchange cock?
Sorry don't know of a birdy version of viagra. Just hope he gets it right occassionall, I guess. Anything is better than nothing being the thinking here.
LML

17 Jan 2011, 17:59

Isn't leb cucumber suppose to get the finchy mojo happening

17 Jan 2011, 18:27

Hemp seed is supposed to get birds into breeding mode, dont know if that would do anything for the fertility of the eggs though.

17 Jan 2011, 18:30

They would be happy eggs though

17 Jan 2011, 18:54

Vitamin E. I use White E, a greyhound & horse supplement, it helps to promote mussel strength, & STAMINA, & has also been attributed to increased fertility in lorikeets (but not proven). It is a fat soluble vitamin so can be overdosed. I use about 1/8 - 1/4 of a teaspoon per 1 litre of lorry wet to fed 12 - 15 pairs of lorikeets. It is not overly soluble in water so a light dusting on some soft food would do the trick. Viamine E, in all of its 8 forms, is also an anti-oxidant, so even if it does not directly improve fertility, it can improve the overall vitality of the bird, wich in turn, should lead to an increase in fertility.

17 Jan 2011, 20:43

@ Deb.
It has the happy bits taken out....at least thats what they told me a the bird shop

!

VR1Ton wrote:Vitamin E. I use White E,

Interesting stuff. Would it be ok for finches too? Is it a powder?

18 Jan 2011, 09:19

You may also want to investigate adding some Spirulina to your softfeed or soaked/sprouted seed mix during the breeding season as this is reputedly good for reproductive health..............might give u that spark u are looking for.
We add it to ours at the onset of the breeding season and discontinue at the finish of the season.

18 Jan 2011, 18:40

Just remember that Diamonds need to be paired at a very young age as they are very fussy about mates. Most breeders pair them before they have even coloured up fully. So my point is, if you swap the cockbird I seriously doubt your hen would accept him.

Just a thought, and maybe you can prove me wrong...

18 Jan 2011, 20:43

I didn't realise that about diamonds - no wonder they are going extinct over here. If she's desperate there's plenty of getting to know you time in the cage next doo as she just won't moult. I want to believe that austerity can bring on a moult and she's been living on the rejected seed (what is whinnowed from husks underneath the seed hopper) and nothing else for a month and no suppliments or greens for 2 months. He's living the high life in my main aviary with sprouted grain with Fiedler soft mix, green seed heads, meal worms, mashed quail egg and fruit (mainly for attracting fruit fly). Maybe he's too fat! If I'm going to breed perhaps I should try them in a cabinet and she won't have to fly.