Separating Pairs to Stimulate

[Strawblady2000]

Have any of you tried separating pairs to stimulate breeding? I know it seems like 1 step back to go 2 steps forward.

I've separated a pair of goulds today...in a breeder with a divider. Im hoping that when I take the divider out, they go for it like mad.

Male has been trying to court...female acts receptive...but that's as far as it gets. There's enough mating to stimulate her to lay, but they aren't quite "kissing" cloaca yet...just going through the motions, lol, so eggs are clear and there are only a couple each time. Also, something tells me that only laying a couple eggs here and there makes her more apt to be a bad parent. She's just under 1 year old and just coming into season.

In the past, I've done this with great results. I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder in this case. When I rejoined birds, they spend all day celebrating.

LOL!

Will probably rejoin in a week or so, depending on behavior.

[Waxbillman]

hello Nikki,

some people split their pairs, but i personally don't without a good reason.

Matthew

[kenny]

hi nikki
canary breeders do this all the time, they split the cocks and hens up during the winter and the favourite way of most breeders is to get a triple breeder and put the cock in the middle with a divider so they can all see each other as soon as the hen looks ready they release the cock bird into the hen birds cage and if it mates they can put it back in the middle till the other hen is ready to mate .and i have done this with my finches for years as most other members do the same .....split the cocks and hens up after the breeding season and they are only put back when they are both breeding fit.it makes sense doesn`t it they arenot trying to mate all the time thus wasting energy and calcium and it gives them a chance to put some weight back on and to rebuild there energy reserves

ken

[Strawblady2000]

Thanks Ken & Matt.

I wouldnt see the need to do this in all cases, Matthew. I guess, to me it varies on the species. Wouldnt do it with the strawberries, for sure.

You've brought some great points up, Ken. Wasting resources is something I hadnt thought of. I had just figured if they werent getting it quite right, then maybe I'd give them more time to season up.

I take it with canaries, only the hen incubates? Interesting.

Normally, I dont separate in the off-season...just remove the nest (if they are the kind that dont use it to roost at night).

[kenny]

hi nikki
yes the hen canary does most of the work,but some canary breeders put wire partitions in so the cock can still see the hen and feed her if need be !its really a rule of thumb if it suits you then do it but its not absolutely neccessary like matt says he dosent split his up.you can maybe split the ones you think need splitting as some like my javas go for each other in a big way in terms of fighting .or you get bengalese that have no malice in them no fighting but then if they are left together the parentage of the eggs produced is immpossible to distinguish as you can get a dozen or so of them in one nest

ken

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Nikki,

As Ken has mentioned it is common practise for Canary breeders to seperate cocks and hens out of the breeding season, in most cases the hens are all placed in a large indoor aviary, and the cocks are seperated into cages on their own to prevent fighting.

I myself seperate sexes with some Species of Foreign Birds, mainly South American Finches and Seedeaters because there can be quite a lot of aggression between them even while they are breeding,:roll: so to seperate them out of the breeding season gives them a proper rest.
And yes you are correct in thinking that absence makes the heart grow fonder in some cases anyway.:D

As Matthew has stated he doesn't seperate pairs, which is OK with Waxbills and other African Finches and Mannikins.

But considering the problems you are experiencing with your pair of Gouldians, I would suggest not trying to breed from the hen until she is at least twelve months old, but better still 18 months old.
As you know Gouldians take a long time to gain full adult plumage, and as a general rule Birds that take longer to gain full adult plumage also take longer to become sexually mature, another example being the Java Sparrow, experienced UK Java breeders suggest the breeding age of Javas (especially hens) to be over twelve months old.

The fact that you have stated that this particular hen only lays one or two eggs doesn't suggest a future bad parent to me, but an immature hen that isn't in full breeding condition yet.
Please leave trying to breed from this hen for 3 or 4 months at least and I hope by July/August you will be telling us all what great results you are getting from this hen by her second round.:D

Paul.;)

[Strawblady2000]

Thanks Paul!

Wonferful advice.

As far as being a bad parent...I guess my mind was going faster than my fingers, lol...IF any of the few she has been laying were fertile, she would not be as apt to care for them as if she were more seasoned in a few months.

I'm only guessing as to her age. She's in full plummage w/ a blackened beak...which still could be under 1 year. She's been separated and will be given more time to do her thing, lol.

And...I'm hopeful that by June or July I'll be able to tell you all that I've got yellows and dilutes from the pair, lol!!!!

Thanks again Paul

[Strawblady2000]

Kenny,

Nodding with you on the bengies...they are a bit "social" arent they, lol.

[kenny]

hi nikki
now if we were talking zebras they are almost ready to breed when they come out of the nest.everything paul has said is right javas for a start stay in the nest for a month before they fledge so they are very slow to mature mine are still in the process of getting their adullt plumage and they have been out of the nest months.the thing here is if you get a mature cock bird that is chasing an immature hen about he may mate with her but it doesn`t make her mature enough,even if she lays eggs .....chances are they will be infertile so as paul advises leave it a while longer to avoid diiapointments.if you have a book on gouldians it should tell you in there how long it should be left before mating as apsrt from maybe getting eggbound it will take a lot out of a bird that is to young to breed

ken

[PAUL HEARN]

No worries Nikki,

I hope you get great breeding results from her later in the year.

All the best, Paul.:D