A lot to Learn About Breeding Greys?

Abstract

Some breeders are consistently successful in breeding Grey Parrots, whereas others struggle for success. They are at a loss to know why their Greys do not even attempt to reproduce. In this article I would like to mention some of the factors that influence good results.

Compatibility

The Grey Parrot is a highly social, non-aqqresslve species that conqregates in flocks in the wild. It is also very vocal so the presence of others might help to stimulate Greys to breed. But, the main benefit of obtaining a number of pairs is the potential for allowing them to select their own mates in a pairing aviary. Unlike many smaller parrots, most Greys show very marked preferences when given a choice of a mate and even strong dislike when force-paired, There is no point in persevering with an incompatible pair.

The Time of Year

A well-known breeder in the UK had some interesting experiences with his Greys. Out of the breeding season they were kept in an aviary that measured 6m (20ft) x 3.6m (12ft) x 2.1 m (7ft) high. In October or November he placed nine pairs in their breeding aviaries. Five pairs had bred with the same partner before. The other four pairs had never bred or one or two birds might have bred with different partners. Within six weeks all nine pairs had laid. Twenty-seven eggs were laid, all fertile, and artificially incubated. All the females laid again and some were allowed to rear their young.

In December or January nine more pairs were placed in breeding aviaries. Only one female laidl Why should the results from the two groups have provided such a total contrast? It might have been that those paired up soon after the moult were in peak breeding condition or perhaps the weather in December and the reduced hours of daylight were not conducive to peak condition.

Or could it have been connected with the natural breeding season of the birds in question, which were probably all wild-cauqht? However, breeding in Africa has been recorded in various months of the year and may be more aligned to the wet season than to any particular month. Rainfall could exert a strong influence on breeding condition and the desire to breed.

Diet and Environment

There is no one diet that promotes breeding success because so many other factors influence this, thus good results are a combination of factors. One of the best-known Grey breeders in the U.S. had greatly improved breeding results when lack of time forced her to switch to a pelleted diet. Her best results were achieved when each pair was screened from the others.

I attributed the highly successful breeding results of a close friend to the time and care that went into daily food preparation for Greys and other African parrots. They were kept in 3m (1 Oft) or 4m (13ft) long wire cages in a light and spacious building and each pair could see the others. Only the area around the nest-box was made private. VerseleLaga Nutribird Pl 5 pellets formed the basis of the food, together with chopped fruits and vegetables. The rearing food contained pulses (beans: mung, butter, black-eyed, haricot and chick peas) that had been soaked with maize overnight, and then washed well. They were brought to the boil in a saucepan, just covered with water and then simmered for 10~ 15 minutes. They were then mixed with fresh or frozen vegetables. The frozen vegetables used were packs of mixed vegetables, peas and/or sweet corn that had been thawed. Fresh vegetables included freshly chopped carrot, celery or green or red peppers. When in season, green beans and courgettes were also used.

 To this was added sunflower seed kernels obtained from a health food store; these were soaked or just allowed to sprout, plus a little white millet. This appetizing mixture was varied with chopped dried figs that had been soaked and fruits in season, such as pomegranates. It was sprinkled with eggfood and a calcium and trace mineral supplement. (There is usually no need to add a vitamin supplement unless the diet is lacking in items high in Vitamin A, such as par-boiled carrot, fresh red bell pepper and oil palm nuts or palm fruit extract.)

 

Some owners of pairs are at a loss to know why they have not nested. One letter I received went like this:

"I have two pairs of African Greys, both bonded, with one pair using the nest-box, They are kept inside, due to a surfeit of dishonest people and local cats in the area. Below my house are two very large cellars, with one pair in each. Each aviary is 8ft (2.4m) long and Sft (1.Sm) high; one is Sft (2.4m) wide and the other is 4ft (1.2m) wide. They can hear but not see each other. The lighting is fully balanced daylight tubes and ventilation occurs through 9in (23cm) air bricks. I feed the Greys a mixture that contains safflower, striped sunfiower, white sunflower, hemp, clipped oats, cedar nuts, peanuts, chillies, peanuts in the shell, tiger nuts, buckwheat, barley, paddy rice, white pumpkin seed, white dari and red dari, plus a high protein easy-sprout mixture, also nuts, cheese, grapes, apples, etc. One pair is proven and the other hen laid from a perch in a communal aviary"

One suggestion I offered to encourage the pairs to breed was to raise the protein level of the diet, as this can stimulate breeding, and prior to the period in which the pairs were expected to breed, to offer the easy-sprout mixture daily instead of every other day. A useful addition to the diet would be a good quality eggfood or, better still, a homemade mixture of hard-boiled egg, carrot and wholegrain bread, for its animal protein. Greys have a high calcium requirement and would benefit from adding a small amount of a calcium supplement to the eggfood. There is little point in adding such supplements to the water as those in syrup form are heavier than water, and sink to the bottom of the container, and unless fed exclusively on pellets Greys drink little, anyway.

 

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