Aussie Finch Forum

i have a "pair" of cubans for just over a year now and i'm wondering if they are actually bonded.

the hen came as part of a splendid pair that i bought at last years melbourne birdsale. unfortunately the cock of that pair was mysteriously found dead on the aviary floor that same day despite everything being done by the book and despite looking perfectly happy and active just minutes earlier!

anyhow. stressed out and frustrated by my loss i replaced him with a scrappy, stressed and young little cock that i bought from a dubious breeder a few days later.

as it turns out the replacement settled in a moulted into as equally a stunning bird as the original cock. but despite the hen seeming to have a close association with the him - i often wonder if they are actually bonded.

reasons:

the cock chases the hen away from food.

i have never seen them mate.

ui have never seen mutual preening.

and whilst the cock does show interest in nesting behaviour, i am yet to ever see them seriously adopt or build a nest.

the cock has chased the hen in the past to the point where i had to bring her inside for rest. and the two birds are often in close proximity to one another. however i wonder if this is more to do with them exhibiting the same species behaviours, for example both being curious they will always be the two birds in the feed tray as i pour in seed or sitting at the wire if i'm doing gardening.

any advice?

if they are not bonded, is there anything i can do?

I have had the same problem years ago...what I did was remove the Cock out of sight but still in hearing of Hen....give him couple weeks and good diet....then put him back...worked for me....might work for you

Along the same lines but probably way off track but would a mirror give him the impression of some competition to spur him on ?

I would agree, if you could place in an adjacent aviery/cage where he can see and call to her but not get to her you may find that she and he will sit against the wire and try to preen each other, this has worked for me with alot of birds but never had a problem with my Cubans they were already a bonded pair.
Deb if Toothlessjaws places a mirror in the cage I believe that 1. The cock will try and kill the intruder male which may end up hurting himself as male Cubans are very territorial 2. May end up with a pretty boy and forget about the hen, to busy looking at himself in the mirror

i might try some of those suggestions.

i separated the hen for a couple of weeks a while back to stop the incessant chasing and it worked, but seemed to stop short of actual bonding. you guys both seem to think its the cock. could it be the hen not interested? thats where my suspicions lay. not sure why though.

I have always found the cock takes over the aviary..(his domain) so leaving the hen in makes her feel more secure then reintroducing the cock into her domain makes him try harder...

thats a good point vettepilot.

i do hope i can breed from them. just delightful little birds with so much personality. i absolutely love their fearlessness and curiosity. and i find them perfectly docile with other species.

When compatable, Cubans show very obvious signs of bonding - mutual preening, sometimes courtship feeding, singing "greeting duets" and definitely no aggressive chasing of their partner. I would try another cock with her. If they have been together for some time without any obvious closeness I don't like their chances of a sudden turnaround. Worth trying taking the cock out for a little while first though.