Breeding age

Dicko · New Member Joined: Mar 31, 2006 Posts: 4

Hi I have kept various birds for years but have never bred Kaks , can you tell me the minimum age a pair can be as I have an old cock and have just aquired a young hen , I have paired them up in a breed flight but without a nest box as yet.

Thanks

Dicko duno

Karen · Snr Member Joined: Nov 12, 2005 Posts: 221

I've been told that they will breed from 6 months or so.
The birds - if they are compatible - will probably breed whether you want them too or not!

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

They will breed at very young age, but it is not wise .
It is hard on the female, the male is still a teenager and not always repsonable as should be (doesnt seem to effect anything thu)
Female should be at least from the previous season
Older birds?
I have some older resused kakariki, they sometimes want to breed, but dont, the odd egg in the nest but not looked after. Before getting to this stage they sit but the eggs are infertile or die.
It doesnt seem to matter if both are old or its the male or female.

Dicko · New Member Joined: Mar 31, 2006 Posts: 4

Thanks for the advice , I think I`ll leave it until late summer before I introduce a nest box , this should make the hen at least 10 months old , do you think this is long enough or should I leave it until next spring (in England thats 1 year from now).

Cheers

Mark

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

There are rules and there are rules...
Some of the other guys may disagree with me
kakarki hatched mid season we will breed from 7 to 10 months later.
We do so without any problems.
The difference between us/ the other higher end breeders here, and the Ave Joe Public breeder with a couple birds in a cage (in all due respect)
is our consistant care ie high end diets, sprouted seed, protien and suppliements every day, fresh water and other monitoring care.
Young do mate in the wild, they have a consistant and seasonal access to their needs.
If this is not provided, young birds can get into health problems, espec hens.
The same goes for older hens who will put out upto and sometimes more than 8 batches in a yr.
ie We feed at least, and often 3 times a day, fresh fruit veggies/protein etc EVERY day.
Ave Joe public doesnt do this.
Therefore the reconmendation is to leave for 12 months and stronger birds.

Dicko · New Member Joined: Mar 31, 2006 Posts: 4

Good advice , many thanks. I`ll leave it until next spring.
I`m off to make some nest boxes for my Rosellas and budgies now , and a new breed flight , its all go but its great!!! Wink