Dumb questions about breeding behavior or hormones

[Ann333]

My breeder is telling me that because my green cheeks will be in separate cages I would have no issues getting a female to be Pumpkins friend. That without a nest box they are very unlikely to try to breed. I am worried about them being on the playgym and "getting together". I am worried that having a male and female in the same house will make breeding season hormones go crazy. I am worried that I do not have an avian vet who I could fully trust with egg binding issues. What are you opinions? Should I be worried about hormones or behavior changes or sexual bonding if they live in separate cages? Am I overthinkin this and making it more difficult than it has to be or should I stick to the idea of ONLY getting another male?

 

[JerseyWendy]

Certainly not a dumb question at all, Ann.

IMHO you are overly worried about a hen 'possibly' laying eggs sometime down the road. Not all pet hen parrots lay, even with a male present in the same household.

I've had my hen YN Amazon for 17 years, and she's only laid one clutch of eggs in her entire life. And there IS a male Amazon present here, too.

Hormones will kick in, regardless of whether the opposite sex is present or not.

 

[Ann333]

That is very interesting. I had it in my head that they were like chickens I guess haha that they lay eggs all the time regardless. I also read a lot about egg binding issues with cockateils for my moms birds and I assumed it translated over to green cheeks and all parrots. I feel like I have not done my due research on this and may have just been making assumptions and making my poor breeders life more difficult

 

[JerseyWendy]

Again, please don't ever hesitate to ask anything, ok? The only dumb question is the one that was never asked.

EVERY female bird 'can' have egg binding issues. However, with proper care, good nutrition, chances are reduced of that happening. My Hunter had no issues passing 3 (enormous) eggs in less than a week. Scared me silly, but after re-arranging the cage, providing different food dishes, and now being fully aware of her 'nesty' signs, she hasn't done it again. I did let her sit on them for a month before removing them and re-arranging everything. That was over 7 years ago.

I can also imagine it must be scary for you to read the many posts of members whose hens are laying eggs. All from budgies to macaws. It really isn't the end of the world.

I'm hopeful someone with conure experience will chime in.

 

[Ann333]

Thank you! Of course you have been very helpful. I trust my breeder but I have a rule not to take advice from someone trying to sell me something lol and there is over $100 difference in price between the turquoise green cheek and the parrotlets....soo.... I just wanted to ask you all if my fears were unfounded or irrational.

 

[henpecked]

You've gotten good advice. I would like to add tha if you have a choice in babies from your breeder, get a parent hatched or raised baby instead of an egg hatched in an incubator. Incubator babies never have the chance to "imprint" on a parent bird. They imprint on humans because that's the only thing they ever see. Egg laying issues could be more possible with these babies instead of a parent hatched baby that knows it's a bird, not a human.

 

[JerseyWendy]

What a phenomenal point you made, Captain!

Ann, I can explain exactly what our Captain (henpecked) is talking about - but the story involves a 'boy'.

My B&G Macaw Niko was incubated and hand reared from day #1. Even though he had a sibling he 'grew up' with (incubated as well), he truly never seemed to know he was a bird.

This became abundantly clear when I brought home my GW Macaw Ripley several years after bringing Niko home. I had my smaller parrots, but wouldn't let them interact with Niko out of fear something could go very wrong. Niko was terrified of Ripley! Until the day he saw Ripley, I had never heard Niko scream. Well...that day I thought I was going to end up deaf. :54: Ripley wanted to play with Niko, and Niko was just mortified. Took him a while to realize he had 'compatible' company, LOL.

Both my hen YN and male DYH were partially parent raised. Hunter was pulled at 3 weeks, and Sam at 4 weeks. He was a feisty little guy when I got him @ just shy of 7 weeks. :32: Oh, and Hunter and Sam get along splendidly! They both have their own cage, but are allowed to spend time together on the ginormous Java trees I have for them.

 

[Ann333]

Umm well I dont know much about rearing chicks but from what I have gathered is the eggs are left in the breeding box to hatch and then at about 2 weeks old my breeder takes the chicks from the nest to begin hand feeding. They are kept with their brothers and sisters from the clutch after being taken from the parents.