Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 12/28/2006

Question
Hi Chrys,

Yes, we are sure of the sexes of the birds. They are definitely male and female. And we have seen them mating.

They both turned 2 years old last November. They are not related to each other in any way either. Both bought from completely different breeders.

They are bonded. The cock bird is still feeding the hen bird beak to beak even though they are no longer mating.

The breeding box is one that is recommended by the breeder. We did put the recommended substrate matter in the bottom of the breeding box which was set up for them prior to them mating. This box was placed in their cage. When they showed no interest in the box being inside their cage, the box was moved to the top of a cabinet in our dining room. They spent a lot of time looking at and investigating the box, but never actually entered the box at all.

There are no other birds in the house and yes, these birds can see outside whenever they want.

Please let me know if you have any more questions. I'd really love to have more of these delightful birds around.

Regards,
Raylee


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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi. I have both a cock and hen Bourke's parrot. They are allowed free run of the house during the day, but are locked in their cage at night.

They have mated and 6 eggs have been laid. Unfortunately, none of the eggs were laid in the breeding box and were not even laid together. The hen made no attempt to sit on the eggs.

Where did we go wrong and how can we rectify the situation next breeding season.

Thank you

-----Answer-----
Hi, Raylee.  Thanks for posting!

Are you sure of the sexes of your 2 birds?  Females can lay infertile eggs without a male.

How old are the birds?  Are they pair-bonded (male feeding the female beak-to-beak)?  What size nesting box do you have set up (parakeet, cockatiel, other)?  Did you put any type of substrate inside the nesting box?  Was the nesting box up before the first egg was laid?  Any other birds in the home?  Were the birds near a window where they could see outside?  

I'm sorry for so many questions, but the answers will help me try and figure out what might have happened.

Thanks.

Chrys

Answer
Hi again, Raylee.  Thanks for the additional information.

I see a couple of things that might have resulted in your situation.  I question the use of substrate in their nesting box.  Substrate interfers with their ability to keep the eggs incubated at the proper temperature.  This may have kept them out of it.  There's only a couple of parrot species who build nests or like substrate in their breeding box when they are laying eggs and Bourke's aren't one of them!  It's OK to put pine shavings inside the nesting box when babies hatch in order to keep them clean of their feces, but usually not beforehand.  Also, the nesting box not attached to or inside the cage may have contributed to this situation.  It could have been too much for them to "guard" the cage as well as the nesting box which was detached and away from the cage.  I would also recommend moving them away from the window (at least when you want them to breed).  Parrots don't understand windows/window glass and things they see outside can be threatening to them (they think other birds, people, animals they see can get to them).  

Chrys