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Birds--General/breeding foods

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Expert: - 10/27/2006


Question
Is there special food I can give my sun cinures and my indian ringnecks to help them breed?

Answer
Hi, Carol.  Thanks for posting!

I don't know of any foods you can feed to help your birds breed.  They are either compatible, pair-bonded, and willing to mate with each other or they are not.  Breeding isn't something you can force with foods.  You can make conditions better for breeding to occur by increasing the amount of light they are exposed to each day to 16 hours, increasing the heat in their room to simulate spring/summer warmth, increasing the amount of food available (basically simulating natural conditions outside in the spring time).  However, if your birds are not pair-bonded with each other, breeding will not occur.

There are vitamins on the market supposedly formulated to help breeding, but I don't have a lot of faith in these products.  Either your birds are compatible enough with each other to mate or they aren't.  Of course, you usually have to put up a nesting box in order for them to start the breeding process, although some birds don't wait that long and will lay eggs in the bottom of their cages.  

Chrys

Birds--General

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Chrys Meatyard

Expertise

I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.

Experience

Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.

Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.

Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.

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