am i doing something wrong!!

[budgiedan]

hi i have 2 pairs in breeding cages it is their first time they have been allowed to breed and they have bonded really well, they feed eachother and spend hours grooming eachother but thats it, i have seen 1 pair go in and out the nest box regularly near enough since the day i put them in but absolutely nothing else has happened. they have been in the breeding cages for 4 weeks now. pair 1 look in good breeding condition but the hen in pair 2 has just gone out of condition. am i doing anything wrong or is there anything i can do to help them along as i regularly read threads about people getting there fist eggs 1 week after putting them in the cages

[hector]

I'm no real expert, but is it possible that they are too young? - Do you know how old these birds are?

As a beginner (yes I am I found that "long days" (many hours of light per day) and spraying the birds every now and then with a little water helps a lot.
You most supply plenty of food, water, calcium and minerals too so they can feel comfortable.

It took a lot of time for my first timers to start to mate and lay eggs too. Months in fact.

So don't give up!

[barrieshutt]

Dan after four weeks they need to be split up , she may be an internal layer and not be any good for breeding.

[budgiedan]

could be possible that r too young, i have 1 pair of this years young born in the summer and pair 2 is last years young (spring 10)

[hector]

As far as I've been told by a local breeder the hen should be at least 10 months old (better to be over 1 year old) and the cock bird should be at least 4 moths old (of course a bit older is recommended here too).

[budgiedan]

hmmm food for thought, might not get anything out of them this year then, thanks hector