Egg sighting... Yes and No

[Learner]

This evening I spotted an egg on the floor of the inner flight of the aviary. Then, I found another. I must have missed the first one.

Unusual, in fact the first time that I can recall this happening for a very long time. I have no idea which of the hens produced the eggs or whether they may have been fertile. I guess it is one hen.

Had there been just one egg I think I would have been a little less concerned. There is no nest-box or anything that might be mistaken for a nest-box.

I suppose the only way to avoid this is to separate the lads and lasses. I did this last year but presently would sooner not plonk half of them into cages as normally they behave themselves impeccably.

Any advice would be welcomed, please.

[OP]

Have you got an Australian Mango by any chance.

[Hezz]

Mango has been eggless for 12 months now ........ fingers crossed, wood touched, and all other superstitious omens bowed to, as I am sure to have just put the mocker on us/her.

Without knowing which hen is the culprit, separation might not be the answer ..... keep the days as short as possible, mix things up in the aviary - change everything around, even if it means having to buy new toys, perches etc, even change the food and the containers, when they get fresh stuff etc ..... even down to the time you visit. Mix things up as much as possible, that's all you can do. And add calcium, just in case.

[skysmum]

All Hezz said really, i would only separate if you found out who was laying and if it went on. Hopefully she will get thrown off if you mix things up a bit, time of year

[Learner]

Thank you both... for the advice.

Already put in extra cuttlefish bone and mineral blocks.

I will reduce the day length by turning the evening light off earlier. It's on a time switch. (I reduced it this evening as it was still bright out and the shed light had come on).

I will try a rearrange of perches tomorrow, move the food bowls about and put in a couple of extra perches. Food wise I will give them a mixed salad tomorrow and hardboiled egg at the week-end.

I have no "toys" in the flight although there are cork-screw hazel perches hung on cup-hooks. These swing freely and are chewed regularly as well as clambered over, up and around. I get the idea - use distraction. Much time is spent by some of the hens gnawing at accessible woodwork.

Newspaper floor covering is usually seen as a chance to play.... while belting about looking for tit-bits that are put in when I clean as well as handfuls of mineral grit. Other than that they enjoy coming out most days to flit around me, clamber over everything and visit a flight cage that houses a couple of newer birds in the aviary shed.

As the outside flight is covered and double meshed I will let them have free access to that again.

Here's hoping.

[Learner]

Up-date:

A few changes about the place... (reduction in additional lighting length too)... seems to have helped.

No more eggs!

---

If there are to be eggs I think it needs to be a little bit later in the year and in a next box!

I wasn't planning on expanding the budgie population but we'll see.

[jellybean]

Go on Learner, you know you want to   And there's nothing nicer than a nest full of baby budgies 

[Hezz]

Yeah, but you have to have the room to keep them. Or not. I think you will do the right thing, Learner.

[Learner]

Feb 24, 2017 10:24:00 GMT Hezz said:

Yeah, but you have to have the room to keep them. Or not. I think you will do the right thing, Learner .

That is the biggest consideration... Space. 

Not over crowded at the moment - another (new) flight gradually taking shape and expected to be in place in a few weeks time but... It will be nice to have more room than is needed and flexibility.

So... I'm not 100% sure there will be any nesting this year.. as nice as the idea is. It is exciting seeing young birds develop and devoted parents caring for them.

Years ago (many years!) I happily sold the foreign finches that I bred knowing they would be well treated in the aviaries of fellow keepers. I kept the best for further breeding. (There was a large & thriving local Cage & Aviary Bird Society. I joined as a young teenager). I also bred a few cockatiels and a very few budgies - the budgies stayed with me but some of the young cockatiels were stolen. Still feel sad not know where they ended up

[starlingqueen]

Sorry to change the subject Learner but do you know much about cockateils?I have 2 and have never kept them before. They are not like any bird I have had before. I rescued them from a tiny cage in a dark shed with no windows so they were in total darkness for goodness knows how long. Before that they were apparently with a lady who didn't want them because they weren't tame enough. So I have these birds who are very nervous and I've never really got them to take to me. The Male in particular is very scared. He shakes, hisses and slaps his wings on the cage when I go anywhere near him. They both have missing claws and toes. I guess what I'd like to know is is there any chance I will ever gain their trust?

[Learner]

Feb 25, 2017 1:55:25 GMT starlingqueen said:

Sorry to change the subject Learner but do you know much about cockateils?I have 2 and have never kept them before. They are not like any bird I have had before. I rescued them from a tiny cage in a dark shed with no windows so they were in total darkness for goodness knows how long. Before that they were apparently with a lady who didn't want them because they weren't tame enough. So I have these birds who are very nervous and I've never really got them to take to me. The Male in particular is very scared. He shakes, hisses and slaps his wings on the cage when I go anywhere near him. They both have missing claws and toes. I guess what I'd like to know is is there any chance I will ever gain their trust?

I have come across fairly placid, almost relaxed, and pretty tame cockatiels but mine weren't. I was given 3 birds by a friend who moved to South Africa. They had been housed in an aviary and came with 3 or more budgies.

Cockatiels can be skitty or mine were... they will settle but boy do they take some patience and time. Mine settled to breed. The hen was wonderful and often hissed at me with her beak open threateningly. Off putting and they have a strong bite.

I tended to ignore the hisses and the occasional spitting sound.... bluff mostly as although they will lunge if they have eggs or chicks they don't attack just defend...again mostly bluff.

The youngsters that I bred would take treats from my hand and sit on me but, once in the aviary, they chose to keep well away from me if possible and copied their parents. They had a 6'x12' outside flight with a 6'x6' inside flight so were fast and strong on the wing. Quite noisy too

Yours sound as if they've had a pretty hard time. I'd keep at it - don't be put off or nervous of them. Slow, calm and determined movements will help them realise you will approach and withdraw without harming them... as with budgies routine and treats help and patience of course.

Peanuts!! I'm sure that's what I used as a magnet for mine - just remembered. Obviously not too many because of the fat content but mine couldn't resist them... enjoyed cracking the shells and forgot about me. Mine also loved apple tree wood... they ate through an entire apple tree trunk.

Let us know how you get on.. they can be gentle, placid and really gorgeous birds.

[starlingqueen]

Thank you for your help Learner . The male is less scared than I thought. As you say it's all bluff. I have managed to get my hand next to him and just move one finger to touch him, just a very light touch at this stage. The Hen on the other hand just moves away as soon as I am near her. She seems less panicked but more stubborn, there is no hissing from her just blatant refusal to be near me. I'll keep trying. I wont be put off, I've got bigger birds than them and had many a bite from budgies to African Greys, you get immune after a while.

[OP]

Mar 2, 2017 8:46:11 GMT starlingqueen said:

Thank you for your help Learner . The male is less scared than I thought. As you say it's all bluff. I have managed to get my hand next to him and just move one finger to touch him, just a very light touch at this stage. The Hen on the other hand just moves away as soon as I am near her. She seems less panicked but more stubborn, there is no hissing from her just blatant refusal to be near me. I'll keep trying. I wont be put off, I've got bigger birds than them and had many a bite from budgies to African Greys, you get immune after a while.

I suppose you have six fingers to prove it.

[Learner]

I'm pleased to hear your two cockatiels are beginning to settle starlingqueen . That's good news.

I think they can take even longer than budgies to get used to you but they are worth the effort.

What colour/s are your two? Mine were mostly the common standard greys but even these are really pretty birds. I loved the crests, orange cheek patches and the yellow spots along the wing feathers (visible in flight or when stretching). Attractive birds. Great when they turn their head to one side to get a better look at you.

As babies they toddle just like baby budgies do.

Here's hoping yours continue to settle well and give you hours of fun.

[starlingqueen]

Mine are the normal tiels too Learner. They seem less scared of me now, well the male does anyway, he's stopped hissing when I walk near him, the female still just avoids my hand at all costs, no panic but just gets as far away from my hand as she can.

They'll get there eventually I hope. The problem is I have had them for several years now and because they have been in an aviary it was never a problem that they weren't tame. I've had to move them to a cage because we are moving house soon and we had to dismantle the indoor aviary. So now I need to be able to handle them so I can let them out to fly.