Breeding season

[Pajarita]

As anybody who keeps his/her parrot at a solar schedule has already noticed, we are in breeding season (the tail end of it, in any case). I have 2 zebra finches, 4 canaries, 1 cardinal, 1 quail, 2 amazons and 1 CAG hens all with eggs. I only bother switching the eggs that are from male and female pairs and, as I have separated the female finches and the canary hens are always in their own cage, it's not that hard because there is only one pair of male/female amazons and the cardinals that I have to worry about.

Now, breeding is a perfectly normal occurrence and without any real danger to the bird as long as the bird has had opportunity to fly (to strengthen the abdominal muscles they use for pushing the egg out), a good diet and either direct exposure to sunlight or a vit D3 supplement. The only thing I do different during this time of the year is the diet. I make a very marked difference between the diet I offer during breeding season and the one they get during the resting season. I believe this is closer to what nature intended their diet to be as all birds are seasonal eaters.

The breeding season diet is quite high in protein and moderately high in carbs but they also get more vitamins and minerals during this time of the year (twice a week instead of just once). I increase the protein by adding insect protein twice a week as well as sprouts two other days of the week and a higher proportion of nuts in their dinner. The insect protein is in the form of freeze dried mealworms with the passerines just getting them in a treat cup while the parrots get it mixed in with the gloop (I 'break' them into smaller pieces for the parrots so they mix in with the grains in the gloop). I use the freeze dried ones because they are lower in fat and there is no danger of salmonella (two problems with live worms). The sprouts are from an ABBA canary blend of seeds called soaking/sprouting mix and it's given the same way, in a treat cup for the passerines and mixed in with the gloop for the parrots. I used to buy sprouts in the supermarket and even did one of the sprouting mixes they sell for parrots but, for some reason (I think it was the large size of the sprouts themselves), the parrots did not really eat them so I tried the canary blend which is made out of very small seeds and SUCCESS!!! All my parrots ate them! This diet is also good for birds that are not going to be laying because it's right before molt.

Aside from the diet, the only other thing one needs to be prepared for is the need for lots and lots of boxes to be used as nests/chewies and the right size fake eggs which can be gotten here: http://dummyeggs.com/

[liz]

Many years ago I had my first Cockatiel given to me. She laid 12 eggs one January because I kept taking them away. That was really wrong. When I realized it was wrong I replace the eggs with white Jordan almonds. I don't know why but she accepted them and stopped laying. That was many years ago. I have learned a little more since then.

[Pajarita]

Yes, I always remember your telling us this story about the Jordan almonds - good call! I wouldn't have thought of it