- May 24, 2014
- 11
- 28
- 109
The Indian Summer we had here in Melbourne caused my original Male (Mister) to breed for a 2nd time, which produced 5 chicks initially.
His first hatching with a different female resulted in 2 male offspring, one of which died 6 months later while sitting on his partners eggs.
Yes, the male tried to hatch the eggs himself. IT was extraordinary, but it failed because he died at the end of the second week.
At a good three weeks now, and the 3 new chicks that survived out of 5 are doing well. The two dark and one light coloured chicks are starting to try flying.
It is a crack up, as they just fly until they reach a solid object, connect then just slide down. lol. I have started removing anything in the enclosure that is not necessary
to increase their room. I still give them small mealworms, all-in-one feed both wet and dry, as well as seed and cos lettuce.
The best thing about not using an automated hatcher was seeing the care and love and protectiveness of the mother and father.
Watching them show the little ones where the food is, and leading them to it. Even though they are starting to get more adult feathers
the mother (Shy Girl) still lifts her wings for them and all five of the family huddle in a corner for warmth and protection together. Delightful.
Since losing one young female chick in the dark during the first week, I have been keeping a light on ever since.
The adult Male bird is already mating with the female bird again.
Another thing I will have to deal with in the future is deciding which ones to keep and whether to sell the older ones, in order to
buy in younger stock. I have a habit of keeping the parents though, and as both adult females have come from the same source,
I won't be able to procure females from that source for the two new young male birds born on my property.
Genetics is important, and I don't band my birds, so I can expect to make some hard decisions in a few weeks.
Once fledged they will need to be rehoused, as the father may try to mate with the new young female, as will her brothers.
In the absence of a female even the two young males may practice on each other, which is hilarious, but a thing I hope to avoid.
My second adult pair of birds (Son of the other Adult Male) has consistently failed to brood, or sit on the eggs. I have a feeling I will need to totally
rehouse them and it is worth revisiting a different design which has dedicated areas for dustbathing, food and brooding materials.
If I do that, then I will probably get a 2nd female for the 2nd generation adult male (George) and increase the odds of breeding success.
The last brood were achieved using a barred flight cage with 2 levels, which included a gantry walkway, they love getting up high to search for food.
Anyway. I am enjoying the growth process. The colder weather has now arrived. Bye for now.
His first hatching with a different female resulted in 2 male offspring, one of which died 6 months later while sitting on his partners eggs.
Yes, the male tried to hatch the eggs himself. IT was extraordinary, but it failed because he died at the end of the second week.
At a good three weeks now, and the 3 new chicks that survived out of 5 are doing well. The two dark and one light coloured chicks are starting to try flying.
It is a crack up, as they just fly until they reach a solid object, connect then just slide down. lol. I have started removing anything in the enclosure that is not necessary
to increase their room. I still give them small mealworms, all-in-one feed both wet and dry, as well as seed and cos lettuce.
The best thing about not using an automated hatcher was seeing the care and love and protectiveness of the mother and father.
Watching them show the little ones where the food is, and leading them to it. Even though they are starting to get more adult feathers
the mother (Shy Girl) still lifts her wings for them and all five of the family huddle in a corner for warmth and protection together. Delightful.
Since losing one young female chick in the dark during the first week, I have been keeping a light on ever since.
The adult Male bird is already mating with the female bird again.
Another thing I will have to deal with in the future is deciding which ones to keep and whether to sell the older ones, in order to
buy in younger stock. I have a habit of keeping the parents though, and as both adult females have come from the same source,
I won't be able to procure females from that source for the two new young male birds born on my property.
Genetics is important, and I don't band my birds, so I can expect to make some hard decisions in a few weeks.
Once fledged they will need to be rehoused, as the father may try to mate with the new young female, as will her brothers.
In the absence of a female even the two young males may practice on each other, which is hilarious, but a thing I hope to avoid.
My second adult pair of birds (Son of the other Adult Male) has consistently failed to brood, or sit on the eggs. I have a feeling I will need to totally
rehouse them and it is worth revisiting a different design which has dedicated areas for dustbathing, food and brooding materials.
If I do that, then I will probably get a 2nd female for the 2nd generation adult male (George) and increase the odds of breeding success.
The last brood were achieved using a barred flight cage with 2 levels, which included a gantry walkway, they love getting up high to search for food.
Anyway. I am enjoying the growth process. The colder weather has now arrived. Bye for now.
