Separating genders

[flap]

I did ask this in another post but haven't had responses and thought that maybe my question was not very clear. Who separates males and females at the end of the breeding seasons? Are there any people who don't? We are trying to work out the best way to rearrange our birds and are not sure which way to go.Thank you for your suggestions.

[natamambo]

Many breeders reckon it makes the birds keener when the time comes (think of a B&S Ball for the birds when you put them back together and you get the picture ).

I don't do it but I'm thinking this year I might with Gouldians when the new aviary is built just to see what happens and if I get better breeding results. The birds I keep apart from the Gouldians (long tails, redbrows in particular) are usually considered to mate for life and be monogamous so there seems to be little point.

[flap]

Our reason for separating would be the opposite, to stop them from breeding for a while. But not keen on doing it, as they seems to all be bonded pairs. Plus our non gouldian birds are one pair each so they would be with no other bird of their species. Is there a list somewhere of which finches bond for life and which don't?

[djb78]

Never separated mine before but might after this breeding season and only going to do it with a couple to see what happens.

[Tiaris]

I've had very mixed results separating pairs after the breeding season. More negative effects than positive. I've had very productive bonded breeding pairs almost totally lose their pair bond and breeding rhythm by separating them for just a short period. I much prefer to give the birds a break from breeding by removing all nest sites & materials and ceasing all livefood and most supplements & using this time to do an annual cleanout of the breeding aviaries. During this time I leave the pairs together & find that when all the goodies are restored breeding is immediate. When previously splitting up pairs they often took months to settle back into breeding again & some never returned to their previous productivity.
This is largely dependent on the species too. I find that polygamous species with little pair bonding such as Siskins, etc. are better suited to separation in the off-season. Virtually all estrildid species I would say it is not the best idea.

[desertbirds]

If youre on a good thing why mess with it. I can the reason for seperating birds out like Pin Tailed Whydahs and to a lesser extent Blue caps but if your confident you mostly have mated pairs and thy are common species you are refering to then i would leave things be if you are already achieving good results. Once seperated im guessing they will have sort out the pecking order once re-introduced and this could dirupt the harmony thats already there.

[Tiaris]

Bluecaps are one species which I would adamently say no to separating. They are the most prominent in my mind when I mentioned the negative effects above. If you must take them out of the breeding aviary I recommend keeping the pair together in the same holding aviary. Still very important to try to stop them from breeding at colder part of the year though (now) due to susceptibility to egg-binding, especially in 1st season pairs (hens).

[gouldianpaul]

Hi Flap,
In the past I've done it with my gouldians for the reasons you explained...keep them keen. I also do it b/c I specifically pair up my goulds according to color, trying to improve on good qualities of each bird as well as trying to minimise bad qualities....by keeping them seperate I choose which cock/hens are paired together, rather than the birds choosing as they come into breeding season.

Whilst I seperate my birds i feel it is only important to do so as they approach the new breeding season (or as you mentioned to stop them from breeding).

Cheers,
Paul

[Glenbary]

I only keep Gouldians and always seperate the sexes for at least 3 months - both new young and breeders - after the breeding season.
I put them back togther as colonies in aviaries or pairs in large cabinets at the start of the new breeding season. The important thing is to watch them very carefully when they are re-paired. With pairs in cabinets, they should bond immediately and go to nest. If they do not perform, I replace one of the pair until the breeding process starts. In aviary colonies there is always a lot of action associated with peck-order and squabbles for nests. This can take a while to settle down. In some cases the pairs do not sort themselves out and breeding is unsuccessful. So I manipulate the birds in colonies if the "war zone" continues, with the aim of getting them to nest.
In my collection I produce 100+ fledglings annually.

[tbird]

I have never separated mine as I don't have anywhere else to put them.( I know, probably not ideal) I have read a lot about removing the nesting boxes to stop breeding but my gouldians sleep in them at night and i would feel really bad for them if they couldn't find their boxes to sleep in.Is it normal for the birds to sleep & raise their young in them -which mine do. It worries me when I read that they shouldn't breed in the off season. I think mine did last year as the babies fledged in November and they still haven't got their adult colours. Which leads me to another question, what time of year in Melbourne is the breeding season?