Breeding?

[MonicaMc]

I thought your decision was not to encourage them to breed, but now you are encouraging them to reproduce.

I expect that you either know how to hand feed the chicks, should the need arise, or you will learn how to do so? And if Paris does lay any eggs that are fertile that you have plans for the chicks once weaned? If you plan on keeping any potential chicks then you need to plan ahead in case one/both of the parents decides to attack the chicks and/or mate with them. (probably less likely in larger parrots, but still a possibility - I've seen father-daghter matings and brother-sister matings, although no eggs were laid or encouraged to hatch)

 

[jacksmom]

Yikes, Monica, relax! I don't respond well to that tone..."I expect that you...", dang, girl, I didn't see that coming from you!

Yes, that's right...I was not going to encourage them to breed. Had Jack never started dragging wood blocks in the corner to chew, I would probably never hung a box. I was relying on them to tell me whether they wanted to reproduce, and even though originally I was going to practice the" birdie birth control" method when they did, my best friend convinced me to raise at least one chick for him. Of course, I could always send him off to a rescue for a plucked chicken with mental problems for twice the price, then he can look at me like I have lost my mind, lol...

My apologies if I made that more confusing than it should have been...also, if you read my posts, you would see my past experience...so rather than be redundant I will just ask you please read more carefully, especially when coming across as abrasive as you were. I understand, it is concern for a bird's welfare that made you speak to me like that, but keep in mind not everyone is going to respond well to that...I am having a hard time myself.

Interesting you should mention that, Sodakat...I have been worried about the same thing...that she will begin laying before truly accepting Jack as her mate. I have an email out to my vet about it, also about chronic egg laying, and whether I am stimulating this, as she doesn't really have a "mate" in the true sense yet. I will let you know!

 

[MonicaMc]

Sorry, I did not mean for it to come out that way!

I was going to put "assume", but didn't want to sound like an *ass* but I did it anyway! My apologies!


I just worry that once Jack and Paris become breeders that you may not be able to enjoy them as pets anymore because they'll be working on protecting each other from *you* and then you'd be the 'third wheel'. I didn't think or felt that you wanted that kind of relationship with your birds.

I have read some of your posts, but I don't know the full extent of your experiences, hence my badly written post previously! I just want to make sure you are prepared for all outcomes!

 

[jacksmom]

No worries at all, Monica, sometimes things come out in type in a way we really didn't mean...I feel as long as we are ready with an apology (even if for the life of us we couldn't figure out how else to say that) then all should be understood and forgiven. See, knew I liked you! Thanks for that, and my full apologies for my defense response!

Yes, I know, he now goes through phases where he isn't my baby anymore, (though he did that before Paris this time of year) and perhaps they will stop altogether, and he will merely tolerate me when it isn't breeding season, and hate me when it is. I never give up on him, though, and never would...I want to believe there is some slim chance he could be both my baby and have a full life with a companion that never leaves him...but if he can't I will forgive him for it. It isn't all that important, in the end, if my animals like me or not. They can hate me, if they like...as long as it is because they" got a better offer". A mate to be with 24/7 is more than I could ever give him.

I know the story all too well...and the plight of single parrots. People get this giant, noisy bird...and a few short years down the road, no matter how into it they are or how they swore they were committed...they really aren't. Maybe they get it a mate, thinking that will make it happy, and it confuses and astounds them when they then turn on the owner. Guess what, lol, your baby doesn't need you anymore.

But in the end, we trick these birds into thinking WE are their mate, and if we stay very committed we can be. Why does a bird pluck in captivity, never in the wild? They are going insane that their mate is gone, and this could mean even mean death.

I give my friend daily lectures that this chick we will allow my pair to have for him will have to be constantly by his side, weather permitting in outdoor activities of course. I warn that he must stay to the daylight cycle, and feed only the best diet...he will probably just start throwing in on our batches. In short, lol, I am completely, utterly paranoid about what would happen to any chick this pair might produce. You may have to submit a blood test. Of your own, lol, the bird would already have one of course.

So, I retain hope that they can love each other, me, and my boyfriend. Jack cracks us up, tries to bite me (not really, he doesn't really bite if you know what I mean!) when Matt is around, and perches on my arm and bobs his head like a baby when Matt isn't there. I tell Matt that Jack doesn't want him to know he is cheating on him.

Paris seems completely unaffected by Jack as far as her feelings toward me...like Jack, her face flushes red when I first come in and she puts he head down for scritches. (Though he doesn't always do that anymore) She still talks to me "whassup girl", and behaves much the same. So we will see if the power of love will prevail, lol, or the natural order of things...but like I said, if they are happy, I am happy.

 

[U2gal]

I'm OK with GOOD breeders. Its the bird mills, or the breeders that ONLY want their money making parent birds to focus ONLY on bringing in the money.

The small cage. Nest box up 365 days of the year. 1 perch. No toys or enrichment.

Pitiful life and easy to profit...

 

[MonicaMc]

I've heard many things about breeding parrots...

• Pets don't make good breeders
• Breeders don't make good pets
• Hand raised parrots make better parents than parent raised birds
• Parent raised birds make better breeders than hand raised

Just to name a few... but I have heard that some birds are pets during the 'off season' and breeders only (i.e. hands off) during the breeding season. I've also heard of birds who are both pets and breeders, and can be handled even during the breeding season.

Sometimes it varies by species, other times by the individual birds. It can also vary depending on how the birds are raised (hand fed/raised by humans - to be pets or to be breeders). So you never know!

 

[sodakat]

I hope they learn to love each other. It was an epiphany for me when I saw my first pair bond and become mates. Then when they produced young and cared for them instinctually I knew their life was much more rewarding than if they were single parrots with just me as a companion.

I like that you are more concerned about their well being than your relationship with them. I feel the same way about my birds. I've been lucky that Rose has remained very devoted to me even while raising young.

Since you are already thinking ahead to the well being of the potential chick from this pair, I wonder if you have instructed your friend that a mate will need to be obtained for this chick eventually?