COCKTAIL BREEDING PAIRS ISSUE Under Aged: Trying to breed birds when they are too young is a sure way to start on the road to disaster. Just think about it this way: a cockatiel under the age of one year is still developing itself. How can it possibly do a good job of hatching and rearing a batch of chicks when it is still needing all of its energy to grow into a mature bird? Underfed: Once again, it is an awful lot to ask of a pair of birds to produce and raise a clutch of healthy chicks if you are not prepared to put the effort into providing them with sufficient nourishment in the form of good seed, soft food, greens and clean, fresh water every single day. Under Weight: You may be feeding your birds an excellent diet but they still dont appear in good condition. Why? Look for the reasons it may be worms it may be illness, but whatever the reason, dont ignore it, check it out. And dont let them breed until you are sure they are in top condition. Under Achievers: This is a fault with neither the birds nor the bird keeper. Sometimes, a bird or pair of birds just wont fulfil your idea of what they should be. Just look at dogs or cats or people, there will always be some that are not going to be good breeders. You can try different partners this may help but if not maybe the bird will make a good show bird or just a pretty inhabitant of your aviary. Overcrowded: This can cause a myriad of problems, from feather plucking to interference with nests (in a colony breeding situation). You will also find the more dominant birds will monopolise the food creating the environment for weak birds. It comes back to common sense, dont breed or buy more that you have the room and the time to look after. Over Bred: Cockatiels are such willing breeders that sometimes they have to be regulated to avoid them becoming tired and calcium deficient. Dont let them breed repeatedly; take the nestbox away and give them a long break between breeding seasons. Over Stressed: I never ceased to be amazed at the stressful environments that birds are placed in and then expected to breed prolifically. It is very stressful for the birds to be placed in a location where there is a lot of noise and activity, never allowing them the chance to feel relaxed and calm about the safety of their nest site. And they should never be in a situation where they are under constant attack from other birds, dogs, cats or birds of prey. Overweight: When you are trying to do the best for your birds, sometimes you can do a bit too much of a good thing. Overweight birds have the same problems as overweight people. Strain on the heart and lack of exercise can contribute to less-than-successful results. Dont overfeed the birds, and make sure they are able to get plenty of exercise. Overproduction: Overproduction leads to overcrowding, so be sure you arent breeding just for the sake of breeding. Think about numbers, where you are going to house them or whether you actually be able to sell them. Overproduction affects everyone because if the numbers become too great, it spoils it for everyone. Over Anxious Owners: Weve all been there, hovering in anticipation of that first chick to hatch. Sometimes, though, too much interference can do exactly what you are trying to avoid. Checking the chicks every five minutes to make sure they are still alive only serves to put unnecessary strain on the parent birds, who must wonder what on earth you are doing, sticking your head in their nest. Dont anticipate problems that may never happen. You should do your job and let the birds do theirs. It seems to me that successful breeding is based on good old common sense and quite a lot of hard work. You dont have to be particularly clever to get a pair of birds to breed, but you do have to be pretty smart to know how to give them everything they need prior to and during breeding, and to know when to stop breeding and reassess where you want to go with your birds.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 07:49:04 +0000
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