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Choosing Breeding Stock

Birds should be alert, fit, healthy, bright-eyed, flying actively, have a clean vent and feel substantial when handled - the breast bone should not be sharp. It does not matter if a few tail feathers are broken or a few feathers above the beak are missing as this is due to general wear-and tear-
i.e. fighting between pairs (completely normal- they all fight even if they have bonded and reared chicks) or bumps and scratches from branches in the aviary, which will cause ragged feathers.

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Nests and Nesting Material

The ideal nest is a wicker hanging basket (the ones for garden plants), hung 10" from the roof of the aviary. You must ensure the nest is placed firmly and solidly in a corner - a moving nest will upset the birds, which will either cause them to not nest at all or abandon.

For nesting material, they require: hay, coconut fiber, moss, little twigs, grass (just pull off some long grass and throw it in the aviary- they will pick it up themselves). A tray of mud (usual garden varieties) must be provided and regularly dampened down with water, so that it is constantly sticky. They NEED this to build their nest. Place the nesting material on the floor of the aviary in different locations so that they have to find their material ...and therefore use their brains!

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Breeding Season

The breeding season begins at the end of March/beginning of April.

To win his mate, the cock will break out into chorus at this time of the year; he will hop, display and fly around trying to impress his mate.

During this time his (as are her) hormones are extremely strong and surging through his body, so it is not unlikely that he will chase her around the aviary and occasionally attack her (which she will do for the rest of the year- hens are dominant outside of the breeding season). It is also not unheard of for the hen to chase the cock when she begins to build her nest.

Once they have bonded the singing will not cease, but will last throughout the season. The hen will begin to franticly pick up nesting material. The cock may help with the nest building but it is primarily the hen's job. After 1-2 weeks of nest building (remember to keep offering material) she will disappear into her nest and very soon 4-6 eggs will arrive.

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Incubation

Incubation lasts 12-14 days and is solely the hen’s job; the cock will feed the hen in the nest so she does not have to leave her eggs at any time.

Once you have seen eggs, please leave well alone! Do not enter the flight while they are incubating, as any disturbance, however minor, will cause them to abandon their eggs.

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Chicks

The young grow very quickly and will fledge after 12-14 days. It's is OK to check on the chicks once daily, but no more frequently as the pair may desert their chicks if they are disturbed too much.

Chicks must be close banded at day 4-5.

Occasionally the young will emerge from the nest at 10-12 days old and sit on the floor.
It is OK to leave them there as their parents will look after them. Chicks are usually independent at 4-6 weeks old.

Just fledged.

 

Begging to be fed.

 

Being fed by its' father.

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