hanging in next box but no eggs...

dublin_101 · Regular Member Joined: Jan 14, 2014 Posts: 16

Hi,

i've recently purchased a pair of Kakarikis to add to my existing budgie and cockatiel aviary. i must admit, these birds are amazing and i already want to buy more.

with the pair i bought, one is female and one is male - i have many breeding boxes in the aviary and nest boxes...it seems that this pair have particularly selected one box and also a log next to it.

for the last few days, the female has been spending a very long time in the breeding box and today i thought that there would perhaps be an egg or two in there. to my surprise though, there are no eggs.

i'm very curious to know if this is a common practice or is there an issue? i believe the hen has been spending most of the past 5 days in the box (with the male visiting here regularly).

any tips and advice would be appreciated.

PS - the kakarikis are in the same aviary with the budgies, etc, and they seem to be getting on well and the budgies don't go near her nests. for the nest material, i've used some fine mulch.

Steptoe · Site Admin Joined: Oct 06, 2004 Posts: 4550

This is not uncommon in many species of birds..including hens
there is no conclusive research as to why this happens.
maybe over intimidation by other birds, just a shy female, ore my get on with the cock but doesnt accept as a m8??? maybe its a hen thats been matched/ breed off before, not willing to take on another full time m8.
And yes even thu any or more than 1 of the above may happen, it doesnt mean she will not accept being feed by the cock bird

If u have the kakariki in the same aviary, when/if she does lay, chances are u will have real issues the kakariki becoming very territorial around the nesting box area. So much so the female will not spend enough time incubating hens....and maybe damaged other birds.
Not to the aggressiveness of red rumps or love birds thu.

dublin_101 · Regular Member Joined: Jan 14, 2014 Posts: 16

Steptoe · Site Admin Joined: Oct 06, 2004 Posts: 4550

Protein plays a big part in kakariki diet... left over cooked meat
Find a thread here "what do you feed..."
Most NZ native birds have evolved different due to no mammals....in diets and behavours

dublin_101 · Regular Member Joined: Jan 14, 2014 Posts: 16

Unfortunately I have to report that I found the hen dead in her box today. I don't know how she died. It has been very hot in the past few days but I've made sure that there is plenty of water and regular mist sprays during the day.

I am very sad and I would like to know how she died - but too late. Could the 'heart attack' theory be true? There are other birds in the aviary and so far they are coping so far.

Steptoe · Site Admin Joined: Oct 06, 2004 Posts: 4550

Heat could be an issue, thu kakariki, of any species is extremely tolerant of heat and cold.
Going from the previous history, I would be more leaning towards her being extremely incompatible with the male... to the point of being intimated into 'hiding ' in the nesting box where the male has been forcing her to go....
We have seen this on rare occasions in the past....
Does her breast bone/ meat fell full/ healthy?
This MAY indicate the above and lack of food....
Or that for a long time she has not been well...most properly before u even got her....which would also explain the nesting box hiding.

I believe, the most likely is u have a hen, who if it was in the nature, as a chick would never have survived....a dud...but being in supervised captivity , survives but finally succumbs when the stress of mating, nesting takes place... then throw hot summers in on top of that... and a strange community aviary.

Good breeders reconise this in chicks and young adults and cull... it is not uncommon for many breeders/ pet shop to simply pass the bird on and take the money.

I very sure it is not anything u have done or not done.