Breeding Grasskeets

[dunker817]

Hello all. I had a question. My grasskeet layed an egg the other day so I contacted her breeder and got some information on the size of nest box to use. Well I got the nest box put some aspen shavings in it. I was expecting her to lay some more eggs but so far no go. My question is how many eggs on average will a grasskeet lay? Based on her age I think this maybe the first time she has laid an egg.

[finchandlovebird]

They lay ever other day I believe. Mine usually lay 3 or 4; they are sitting on 3 right now. 1st clutch this year was 3 eggs & one hatched May 9.
Last year they had 2 clutches; raised 2 chicks out of one, one chick out of the other.

[dunker817]

She has laid any more so I guess she is done with it for a while. Should I keep the nesting box in the cage or take it out? I'm thinking if I leave it in she will get used and thus more likely to use it.

[finchandlovebird]

Leave box in; she may start sitting on the eggs any time now.

[cindy]

Scarlet hens will go in and out of the box and remove the wood shaving in one corner of the box, you may see wood shaving placed outside the box. This is normal and she is getting the box ready to nest in.

How old is your hen? and male?

What is their diet? When she starts to work the box you may want to supply some extra calcium/D3 in her soft food or water and discontinue it when she lays her last egg. Some of mine have up to 5 chicks at a time.

What size cage are they in? Box hung on the outside?

[dunker817]

Cindy, both of my keets are a little over a year old. They eat Dr. Harvey's Collosal Cocketiel food and get fresh fruits and veggies and egg food. Their box is not hung up at all. I can't find a way to hang it on the inside of the cage so it's sitting on the cage bottom. There cage is a double wide flight cage. Its 21"x34"x64.

[cindy]

can you take a picture of the cage? I might be able to suggest something

[dunker817]

Here is a pic of the cage. She laid another egg last night about 11pm and laid it in the seed dish. She just doesn't like the nest box.

[cindy]

they generally do not lay eggs and nest on the floor...does the cage have a small side door up high, Looks like you have two doors one on either side, that is where the box can be mounted. You can drill holes and zip tie it to the cage (placing the entrance to the box at the door opening). Add a perch near the box.

[dunker817]

I hadn't thought about using zip ties. Thanks for the idea. I can drill holes to run the ties through and mount it to the cage. I think the side doors come off I remember correctly. Cool. Now I have a project for tomorrow.

[dunker817]

I have the nest box hung. Here are a couple of pictures. Do I have the perch positioned correctly? Too far or too close to the box?

[cindy]

that looks good, the male often stands outside the box and feeds the hen and young....you may want to pull the dowel for the box out a little more. Hope they like the box up high. Add some pine flakes to the bottom of the box, the hen should go in and work the box, removing or arranging some of the pine.

[dunker817]

My hen, Penny, took to the new positioning of the nest box. She has been in that box almost all day scratching around. My male has gotten close to look at it but never gone in. She been laying eggs once per week so I don't if she is going to lay again or not.

[dunker817]

cindy

I have an egg. Penny, my hen, laid an egg yesterday. She's been doing a pretty good job of sitting on it. She hasn't touched her cuttle bone but is eating egg food. Is there anything special I should feed her? And can you recommend a good calcium supplement. I don't know if she is through laying or not.

[cindy]

what are you feeding her and are you using any powdered supplements or pellets?