To promote breeding in a bonded pair should I keep them in their cage? They are usually in their cage Mon to Fri all day till 5 then they are let out for a few hours. On the weekend they are let out all day. Should I keep them in their cage to promote breeding?
Hi Robert,
Yes, to get them to focus on breeding, it’s best to have the cage in a quiet, private location and have minimal contact with them. This includes not letting them out. The nest box should only be available for breeding, and then removed in between each clutch, whether the eggs hatch or not. If they hatch, you remove the box as soon as the chicks leave it. The pair should be rested for 6 months in between clutches. Both birds should be at least 2 years old. To encourage breeding, besides giving them privacy and hanging the nest box, start feeding a lot of extra fresh foods as well as an egg food – this can be a commercial egg food or cook and egg with the shell washed, crushed and cooked with the egg. Make sure they get plenty of light. Of course you can do everything right and still not see results, but this is the best way to encourage breeding.
Thank you for asking Lafeber,
Brenda
