Special food to encourage laying??

[bongodoggie]

I feed my chickens 'laying mix' to promote egg laying. Is there some equivalent for my macaw?? She & her boyfriend 'makeout' all the time, and they have a nest box, and I keep hoping to have some little grandbirds arrive, but alas ... what can I do to encourage them to have babies??

A broader subject would be my 29 y/o yellow nape female I've had all her life, and the little spinster has yet to give an egg. What gives? She has been DNA tested female.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I can't suggest anything for the macaws since I do not breed. But are you sure you want babies? that's a big responsibly. And so many parrots are in desperate need of homes already. Do you have good potential homes for a bird who will live 50-90+ years? Can you afford the vet bills of new birds, Can you ask your avian vet, or a local breeder to teach you to hand feed baby birds, are your current birds on a excellent diet that can keep them healthy during breeding?(high potency harrison's pellets, fresh food daily) Lots of questions to think about

As for the amazon
Parrots aren't like chickens, so it's no surprise that your 29 year old hasn't laid any eggs. I know someone who's "male" macaw laid it's first egg at age 25 LOL! Parrots should only lay eggs when breeding. In captivity their hormones get all mixed up sometimes and they produce a egg.

 

[crimson]

one word,.... Hemp. organic is best.

I was curious to see if it worked, as lots of breeders tend to use it.

...it was an experiment, and it does work. I've never used it again.

I prefer to let mother nature take it's course

 

[henpecked]

Are you referring to hemp seed? I've never seen organic hemp seed. All hemp seed here in the US is sterilized ,so it can't be used to grow plants. I feed it to all my breeder and pet birds and haven't seen any correlation with egg laying or increase in hormones. As far as stimulating laying in the macaws,,, change nest box material, offer different shape boxs, change locations, high protein foods (higher fat content), low humidity,wood blocks in nest box to stimulate male, cut back on green fresh foods, keep other birds out of sight, day light/dark should be about 50/50, there a multitude of factors, get a mentor. Research New World parrots , they are cavity nesters and only nest during the "dry season" in tropical/subtropical areas. (tree cavities fill with water during heavy rains). Stimulating many pairs means mimicking seasonal changes with all of the above mentioned ,so offering the above all year long would defeat the purpose. I would remove the nest box and start over. Have a breeding season and remove all stimulus when "out of season". IMO providing a nest box year around is a mistake. They may mate though out the year but most times it is a bonding ritual. If mating every AM or better yet, every AM and PM then install the box and stimuli. Another que might be sudden aggression in your male. Sounds like you have young ,unproven birds. You'll have to find what they like /prefer and stick to it. Also buy the book,,,Parrots ,handfeeding and nursery managment, By Howard Voren and Rick Jordan, well worth the babies you'll save.

 

[crimson]

I used it with my lovebirds, cockatiels & english budgies.
they were out of breeding season, so I figured it was a good time to experiment.

within 2 weeks, all were breeding, and produced viable chicks.

there are small portions of hemp seed in seed diets, but only a small percentage.

I can't say whether it would work on the larger parrots.

like I mentioned before, better to let mother nature take over, rather than use stimulants

 

[Echo]

I don't use Hemp seeds, but I found these. Not sure if that is what you are referring to CRIMSON?


Raw, No Shell, Organic Hemp Seeds - Nuts.com

Hemp Seeds -By the Pound - Nuts.com

 

[Kalidasa]

Are you referring to hemp seed? I've never seen organic hemp seed. All hemp seed here in the US is sterilized ,so it can't be used to grow plants. I feed it to all my breeder and pet birds and haven't seen any correlation with egg laying or increase in hormones. As far as stimulating laying in the macaws,,, change nest box material, offer different shape boxs, change locations, high protein foods (higher fat content), low humidity,wood blocks in nest box to stimulate male, cut back on green fresh foods, keep other birds out of sight, day light/dark should be about 50/50, there a multitude of factors, get a mentor. Research New World parrots , they are cavity nesters and only nest during the "dry season" in tropical/subtropical areas. (tree cavities fill with water during heavy rains). Stimulating many pairs means mimicking seasonal changes with all of the above mentioned ,so offering the above all year long would defeat the purpose. I would remove the nest box and start over. Have a breeding season and remove all stimulus when "out of season". IMO providing a nest box year around is a mistake. They may mate though out the year but most times it is a bonding ritual. If mating every AM or better yet, every AM and PM then install the box and stimuli. Another que might be sudden aggression in your male. Sounds like you have young ,unproven birds. You'll have to find what they like /prefer and stick to it. Also buy the book,,,Parrots ,handfeeding and nursery managment, By Howard Voren and Rick Jordan, well worth the babies you'll save.

In my state (and many others) there is a never ending supply if organic hemp seed....it depends on the marijuana laws in a particular state. It's decriminalized here.

 

[henpecked]

Don't think Florida will change anytime soon.They just keep building more jails.

 

[crimson]

I don't use Hemp seeds, but I found these. Not sure if that is what you are referring to CRIMSON?


Raw, No Shell, Organic Hemp Seeds - Nuts.com

Hemp Seeds -By the Pound - Nuts.com

ECHO- that's pretty much it. but mine is ground up a bit more.

 

[Mayden]

Have you tried adjusting their daylight hours so they feel like it's more "spring"?

 

[MikeyTN]

I feed hemp seeds too and it didn't promote mine to breed. I've been feeding hemp for many years now.

OP, you never did mention how old are your macaws?? Sometimes they don't reach sexual maturity until they're older, like 10+ years old.

 

[bongodoggie]

MikeyTN: My Macaws are younger, approximately 6-7 y/o. I've had them about 4 years.

 

[MikeyTN]

They may not be fully matured yet! Hence the reason they're not laying. Willie didn't get into his full maturity until he was 10 years old as he became super aggressive. I call him a cranky old man some times cause after his full maturity he's not the same, he's 12 right now. But I see the old him some times. Lola who is only 3 years old right now act like a toddler that keeps going and going and going, Willie used to do the same thing. I've had Willie for 10 years.

Just be patient with them right now and I think you have a bit more study to do on them.

 

[Birdman666]

Prime Rib, and a nice bottle of red...

Oh, wait, did you mean the bird?!

Nevermind!

In that case I have no idea...

(I guess I haven't fully matured yet either.)

 

[Echo]

Prime Rib, and a nice bottle of red...

Oh, wait, did you mean the bird?!

Nevermind!

In that case I have no idea...

Lol funny!!

 

[bongodoggie]

MikeyTN: Oh great, Rojo already is a mean little rascal, I call him Rojo Diablo 'The Red Devil'.

 

[bongodoggie]

@Birdman666: My birds would take a bite of the Prime Rib, but they're not old enough for the wine.

 

[Birdman666]

My lilac crowned amazon would probably eat red meat... However, I only give them chicken and fish.

For some reason, my birds all seem to prefer whites... (Which I really don't drink all that often, but when I do... gotta keep the feathered faces outta the wine glass!)

Couldn't resist the opening though...