To breed or not to breed?

[FFG]

I have recently discovered that my all male aviary (only 4 buds) is not all male...

It seems like one is a female coming into breeding condition. At first I have been thinking that maybe I should get another female so she is not so outnumbered. (she shows no signs of being intimidated and is probably the most forthcoming and bossy out of the lot).
I have only just gone from having indoor birds to an aviary and have no experience of breeding but my other thought is to get a nest box and see if she does breed.
I have no intention of breeding in a big way but am just thinking of seeing if nature takes its course with her (and her mate if she chooses one!).
If she did I would only supply the box this once and if it worked and all went well would take it away again.
This is because I don't want to colony breed either and don't want to have lots of buds either. I like interacting with them all individually and only want to keep a few (for now )

Just wondered what peoples views are on this please. Is what I am thinking a good thing or the wrong thing?

[steve05412]

Don't know if it is right or wrong am probably going to be be in a similar situation.
If I decide to go that way then I would first have a chat to local pet shop and see if they would be able to take any of spring this will help you with not interbreeding. If thstis possible then yes I would let nature take it's course. You may want to invest in a breeding csge and have the psir separated. ..hth

[steve05412]

Sorry for typos am on phone...lol

[FFG]

Jun 10, 2015 10:10:59 GMT steve05412 said:

Sorry for typos am on phone...lol

Thinks Stove, ne priblome  ..
I know that breeders separate them in a separate cage but I don't really want to. I would rather have a nest box and do it that way if possible and watch from a distance. (I know everyone's different but if its not cruel in any way to do this that's just what I would prefer)..

[steve05412]

One of the lads in work breds buds in aviary and he has nest
boxes all over the flight area not had any probs with them and very successful. Thing to remember is having the boxes same height as it is a dominance thing

[FFG]

Thanks steve05412. I had heard that but was thinking as I've only got one female she's got no others to compete with. thanks for info though.

[starlingqueen]

When I only had the one hen, same situation as you, thought they were all Cocks, I put a nest box in the aviary and she did lay but they were not fertile. She had a mate but he didn't and still doesn't "do the biz". You could try but you will have to wait until she's a year old or you could face some problems.

[FFG]

Thanks starlingqueen. She is only just over 6 months. So are you saying I shouldn't put a nest box in yet then? And what problems could I face?
Sorry I have read up on some stuff but very naive about breeding still!

[starlingqueen]

I wouldn't put one in just yet. She is still very young. They are not mentally ready to be parents at less than a year. In the worst case, the mother could eat the eggs, abandon the nest too early or attack the hatchlings. It's also a strain on their young bodies. They use a lot of energy to produce the eggs, it can take a lot of calcium from them and if they don't have a good supply it is leached out of their bones.
I would spend the next 6 months building her up with all the good food she will need. Provide her with plenty of calcium and vitamins, fresh food etc, to give her the best chance. You will probably be looking to breed her this time next year as 6 months will be in winter. I would also have some hand rearing formula ready too. As you only have one hen, if anything happens to her when you have chicks you wont be able to foster them to another hen so you will have to hand feed them. That is a very time intensive process in itself. Lots to consider before the time is right.

[FFG]

Ok thank you starlingqueen for the info/advice.I'll leave them be for a while then and hopefully they will all find their ranks
It will give me time to come to terms with Ozzy now being Izzy! Also time to read up on females, conditioning and breeding etc...

[skysmum]

They can also become egg bound under a year old FFG, their muscles are not developed enough to push an egg out, this can kill a Hen and its not a nice death . Some show breeders breed from 6 months but they are very experienced in dealing with problems and even then they loose some.

[FFG]

Thanks skysmum. I have heard of females becoming egg bound but to be honest because I had (thought I had) all males I haven't paid much attention to the female needs.
Think I need to learn how to look after my daughter!

[Rachael Kellett]

I wouldn't advise breeding her until she is at least twelve months old. Also I'm not a supporter of colony breeding, it can go very wrong with fights between the other birds, chicks getting pushed out of the nestbox or even attacked and killed. I have bred before, in fact I have a pair with three chicks right now, but I set them up in a cage on their own. It's much safer and controlled. You will need to do lots of research if you ever do decide to breed, such as a good diet for the breeding pairs before they start and during. Supplements for their water, calcium being the main one. There are many things to consider but it's an amazing thing to experience if you'd like to see my breeding experience this time round I have a thread on here called Peggy and Dexter: breeding journal.

[FFG]

Thank you very much for your advice Rachael. I had decided that the aviary was going to be an all male club but ozzy being a female has thrown a spanner in the works. Just got me to start thinking differently along these lines! I will do plenty of research before I make a decision yes. I have been following your thread actually and it looks amazing

[Learner]

While you are waiting for the 6 months to pass and doing all that research & reading you could consider another couple of pretty hens to help balance out the numbers.

This time next year you might have decided to start off with two pairs in two separate breeding cages... that's sort of what happened to me... the numbers grew because I tried to establish a balance of cocks and hens and the colours were so pretty I couldn't resits one or two more.

Patience leads to perfection... depends how patient you can manage to be I guess but as it's in the best interests of the birds welfare it is worth the wait.