Can I give my M/M BCCB's a nest?

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Ginene
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Can I give my M/M BCCB's a nest?

Post by Ginene » Fri Nov 08, 2013 4:32 pm

Bert and Ernie (M/M BCCBs) are getting along well...finally :) . Their bickering is minimal and they act more like a pair now. Its seems like they are trying to build a nest. They are shredding their sisal ladder and placing their own feathers on a high perch, which is nested within some fake foliage. I'm a bit concerned that they might resort to plucking themselves or one another, so I was thinking about giving them some coco fiber and a twine nest ball. What do you think??? I don't want to encourage anything that will bring out aggressive or territorial behavior. They are still alone in a large flight and will be for another 2 months. Thanks for your help... :mrgreen:

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Re: Can I give my M/M BCCB's a nest?

Post by Ginene » Sat Nov 09, 2013 8:45 am

OK...So this MUST seem like a ridiculous thread, as nobody has replied :oops: . The sad thing is, I just don't want to do the wrong thing for my boys :? . So I wont add a nest (or 2) because I don't want to risk either or both of them becoming aggressive/territorial toward one another. :shock:

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Re: Can I give my M/M BCCB's a nest?

Post by debbie276 » Sat Nov 09, 2013 9:28 am

Haven't had BCCB's so can't say one way or the other but if they are like society's and sleep in nests I don't see how it would hurt adding a couple :)
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Re: Can I give my M/M BCCB's a nest?

Post by Ginene » Sat Nov 09, 2013 9:32 am

debbie276
Thanks, Debbie...I appreciate you trying to help me with this silly problem. They can be very fresh to one another and things have just calmed down. They are trying to build a nest together, so maybe it wouldn't cause trouble. YEESH!!!
The other thought I had was to remove the separation in the jumbo flight and let the 6 Texas birds be together now. This would probably distract their urge to build a nest. 30 day quarantine is up for all 6 Texas birds...

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Re: Can I give my M/M BCCB's a nest?

Post by Nerien » Sat Nov 09, 2013 9:46 am

I have most of my societies trying to build a nest together, which since they're in a homemade cage of 1/2" grid wirecloth, means shoving things through the mesh above and along one vertical perch branch over and over.

Maybe instead of giving them a nest, just put up some vertical branches or perches, a little cluster of sorts, and give them lots of orchard grass (hamster section of any petstore) and let them try to build it themselves. Will keep them busy much longer. If it starts to take on a real shape, then either give them feathers or knock it down so they have to start all over and don't pluck each other lining it.

I have given my societies and my zebras loose fake leaves and flower petals to work with, keeps them busy, and if they ever start to accomplish anything for real, the big ol' bad Nerien-wind blows through the cage and knocks it all down so they have to start over again. I am so mean to those little birdies. :lol: But it works, is keeping those little psycho zebras busy, and now I have 4 males in with only 3 females and they haven't figured it out yet!

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Re: Can I give my M/M BCCB's a nest?

Post by Ginene » Sat Nov 09, 2013 11:02 am

Nerien
Great Idea, Ruth!!! Thank you!!! I will get to work on finding a nice vertical branch for Bert and Ernie :) . I have coco fiber, which is a BCCB favorite :) . xoxo

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Re: Can I give my M/M BCCB's a nest?

Post by Sally » Sat Nov 09, 2013 12:14 pm

It's always hard when breeding season comes around and you have m/m pairs. Some of them are not bothered at all but with others, the breeding instinct is so strong that even without females present, they want to breed. That may explain why your two boys were squabbling at first. A nest could trigger the aggression again or it could give them a purpose. I put two sibling BCCB males in a cage that had previously housed a pair. There was a partially constructed nest in the cage which I thought these two would ignore. Instead, they completed the nest, and then one of the males proceeded to sit in the nest for hours on end! I thought I had a great pair of fosters, but when I gave them eggs to sit on, they lost interest completely. Nerien's idea sounds like a good one to try.
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Re: Can I give my M/M BCCB's a nest?

Post by Ginene » Sat Nov 09, 2013 5:04 pm

Sally
It's always hard when breeding season comes around and you have m/m pairs. Some of them are not bothered at all but with others, the breeding instinct is so strong that even without females present, they want to breed.
This seems to be the case with Bert and Ernie. While cleaning the double-wide flight today, I decided to remove the divider and allow all 6 Texas finches to have access to the entire cage. So far, everyone is enjoying the extra space and I haven't observed any aggression. I did a bit of rearranging, added another bath and have more than enough food/water/supplement areas available. There are also plenty of high/private places to perch and sleep. Hopefully, things will continue to be peaceful and everyone will enjoy stretching their wings a bit more now :) . Thanks for your help.

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Re: Can I give my M/M BCCB's a nest?

Post by procfamily » Sat Nov 09, 2013 7:48 pm

Not a silly question at all! I will be resl curious to see what happens. Im very interested in hearing all i can about all the cordon blues!
ten blue capped cordon blues, one male red-cheeked cordon blue, four blue breasted cordon blues, 5 gouldians; two parakeets, 9 owls, five blue-faced parrot finches, two green singers, four stars, 2 shaft tails, four gold breasts, two orange cheeks, two lavenders and sixteen societies.


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Re: Can I give my M/M BCCB's a nest?

Post by Ginene » Sun Nov 10, 2013 9:57 am

Sally
SALLY!!! I think Bert is plucking is own back!!! Hubby and I saw it with our own eyes this morning...I'm very sad :( . We didn't actually see him pull a feather, but he kept going back to that area picking around with his beak. Of coarse I considered mites for a second, but I sprayed all of my birds and their cages/perches with AIL 1 month ago. I also considered that Ernie could have done it and now he's just uncomfortable...but Bert is the alpha of the pair. He looks perfect until he turns his head around and moves his wings to reach his back. I put coco fiber in the flight and all of the boys (5) are very interested in it. I'm going to keep my eyes on things, but I am considering dividing the flight again. I don't want the coco fiber to trigger breeding issues with my M/M stars or my M/F owls. As it is, Geri lays 2 eggs a week without having a nest/material in the cage. Any other suggestions??? I will add a heat lamp to the top corner in case Bert is cold... :(
Not a silly question at all!
Thanks...I didn't think I would have these types of issues with M/M pairs. #-o But once again, Mother Nature throws a monkey wrench into my peaceful bird room [-X .

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Re: Can I give my M/M BCCB's a nest?

Post by Sally » Sun Nov 10, 2013 11:47 am

Are you sure Bert is being plucked or is plucking himself? Sometimes, when birds are preening themselves and turning around to reach the back, you can see skin at some point. If he is the alpha male, I wouldn't expect Ernie to pluck him. I'd just keep an eye on them for now. And be sure to give them daily baths, CBs LOVE to bathe.
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Re: Can I give my M/M BCCB's a nest?

Post by Nerien » Sun Nov 10, 2013 12:12 pm

I don't want the coco fiber to trigger breeding issues with my M/M stars or my M/F owls.
Now wait a minute, remember I'm living vicariously through you, you're supposed to let them breed! You can sell me the babies, so you don't have to worry about overpopulation. Hubby wants owls, has since he first saw a video of them. They can live with the OC's that we're not getting. :crazy:

No, seriously, I've seen the appearance of a "bare spot" while preening, and it's not really there when they turn back around and settle their feathers. If the area isn't disturbed when he's all done and smooth, then you probably don't have a problem. Keep watch for a couple of days and see whether the area is truly plucked, increasing, or it's just the appearance you get when he preens.

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Re: Can I give my M/M BCCB's a nest?

Post by Ginene » Sun Nov 10, 2013 12:33 pm

Sally@Nerien
Thanks, Ladies...He looks perfect when his wings are normal. I will be sure to give them a bath everyday. T & W are my insane work days, so they usually miss their bath those days. I have to try and do better with that. Thanks for the advice :)
Now wait a minute, remember I'm living vicariously through you, you're supposed to let them breed! You can sell me the babies, so you don't have to worry about overpopulation.
Lol!!! I would LOVE to breed you some baby owls Ruth...but I can only handle breeding in a separate breeding cage. Otherwise I become a complete, neurotic mess. Right now my singers are in my breeding cage, still in quarantine. I planned on trying to breed them...I just need to pick up a canary nest and add more foliage to their cage. :) . You are more than welcome to any babies that come my way :) . Hubby is counting on you and Jennie to prevent my bird room from going above the 13 finch quota :wink: . I still have your double decker parrotlet breeding cage. Plus the 2 black breeding cages too :wink: .

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Re: Can I give my M/M BCCB's a nest?

Post by Nerien » Sun Nov 10, 2013 1:31 pm

That's right, we remember about those every now and then. Will have to figure out how to get them from you. You ever head north of the city? We could meet you somewhere. We don't drive into the city, we're chicken, little country people, we take the train in. Wonder if I know anyone who does drive in?

I know, :YMDEVIL: , fill one of those breeder cages with baby owls, then we'll just pick it up from you pre-filled. =)) =)) =))

sorry. can't help myself. i need help.

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Re: Can I give my M/M BCCB's a nest?

Post by Ginene » Sun Nov 10, 2013 1:39 pm

I know, , fill one of those breeder cages with baby owls, then we'll just pick it up from you pre-filled.
I have a better idea...lets get you that parrotlet breeding cage and then I'll swap you a parrotlet baby for baby owls and baby singers :) .

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