2011 breeding season

We've had a few mild days recently and with the daylight hours now getting longer the birds are getting ready for the breeding season.  The bourkes especially have shown an interest and as Rocky and Rosie are in the inside shed cage I've decided to introduce the nest box early. During March I'll be getting the rest of the pairs started, although I know we'll get another cold spell before spring has sprung.
My breeding plan for this year is:-

2011 Breeding plan Turquoisines Rudolph Red fronted normal / cinnamon yellow opaline Goldie Red fronted yellow opaline Cocks (all red fronted):- Hens (all redfronted):- 25% opaline    2/3 split cinnamon yellow    1/3 split yellow 25% normal    2/3 split yellow opaline    1/3 split cinnamon yellow opaline 25% yellow    2/3 split opaline    1/3 split cinnamon opaline 25% yellow opaline    2/3 split cinnamon    1/3 no split 16.75% normal    all split yellow 16.75% yellow    no split 16.75% cinnamon yellow opaline    no split 16.75% cinnamon opaline    all split yellow 8.25% cinnamon    all split yellow 8.25% cinnamon yellow    no split 8.25% opaline    all split yellow 8.25% yellow opaline   no split Comments: Any cinnamon offspring will have dark plum red eyes and will be hens. Scar Red fronted yellow opaline  Ruby Red fronted normal / yellow Cocks (all red fronted):- Hens (all redfronted):- 50% normal    1/2 split yellow opaline    1/2 split yellow 50% yellow    1/2 split yellow opaline    1/2 split yellow 50% opaline    all split yellow 50% yellow opaline    no split Comments:Any opline offspring will be hens. These birds are young and may not breed till later on in the year. www.nestboxcameras.com Bourkes Pinky Rubino (ino opaline) Perky Rosa (opaline) Cocks  Hens  100 %  rosa    all split ino 100% rubino     no split Comments:All rubino offspring will be hens. All rosa offspring will cocks, Rocky Rosa (opaline) Rosie Rosa(opaline) Cocks  Hens  100% rosa 100% rosa Comments:

I've named the new yellow opaline cock Scar and the normal hen Ruby.
The two youngsters I've kept from last year, probably won't be breeding this year, they are named as follows:-

Phoenix: Cinnamon yellow opaline hen

Flame: Opaline / yellow cock (I think)

I won't be breeding these together as they are brother and sister, but assuming I've got them sexed right I'll probably later split up Scar and Ruby to make unrelated pairs.

I've had the birds in their breeding areas for a few weeks now.  Rudolph and Goldie, together with Pinky and Perky are the green aviary.  Rocky and Rosie are in the small shed cage and Scar and Ruby are in the big shed cage.  Meanwhile, Phoenix and Flame are in the brown aviary.

Lighting

During the winter months I use energy saving light bulbs in the aviaries to increase the short days.  These are on a timer and come on a couple of hours before sunrise and switch off a few hours after dawn. I find that the birds will get up in the morning to feed with the light, however they will still roost at dusk despite the light.  I therefore no longer bother with the lights in an evening.  A big problem with my aviaries, indeed my whole garden, is that they get very little sunlight during winter.  Birds need the sun for the UV rays which in turn provide vitamin B, which is required for the absorption of calcium to maintain healthy bone and feather growth.  For this reason I am now intend to use full spectrum light bulbs which you can now get reasonably cheap as energy saving bulbs. 

New turks and last years young

I've just about got my birds sorted for spring.  I've managed to sell the young from last year and swapped one of them for a new yellow opaline cock.



He's the one on the left.  The bird on the right is the young cinnamon yellow opaline hen from last year. They will make a fine pair.  But unfortunately the hen will probably be too young to breed, at least for the first part of this year.  What I may do is pair him with a slightly older hen for now. She's a normal split yellow that I bought last year.

I've also kept the young opaline turk from last year, which I thought was hen and was all ready to sell until I was informed it may well be a cock (time will tell).  I'm glad because I really like this bird.

Again, he will probably be too young to breed straight away this year.