FINCHforum

My berry hen is laying again but her mate molted a few months back and is no longer "red". If I set them up in a breeding cage are they likely to mate regardless of his feather color?

I have read that cock birds can breed even when they are not in nuptial plumage, so here's hoping he agrees with the books!

Thanks Crystal.

I've been offering my birds mealworms 2-3 times a week for the past two weeks. So far, only the berries and cb's are eating them. I imagine the added protein put the berry hen in egg laying mode, not sure if I want to go to the trouble of setting up another cage as room is very limited at this time.

Have they bred successfully in the past? Are you able to test to see if they're fertile?

I've only had this pair since Dec. 05, I'm not certain about their past attempts. I believe they had one clutch for the previous keeper.

I haven't checked the eggs for fertility mainly cause I'm not able to set them up in a breeder cage at this time. I'm looking for a larger house. One that will allow me to seriously think about breeding my birds.

December 05 is when I was officially diagnosed with Avian Fever, too! Amazing how much these lil birds have effected my life in such a short time.

I hope you end up with some berry babies