The Java's Hut

[JackoftheGreen]

Wasn't sure exactly where to put this thread, mod, feel free to move it if I chose poorly.

My Java's don't like the nest I made them. )-:

Previously, my Java's had in their cage a quite small typical wicker uncovered nest like you can get at any pet store. They used to sleep perched on the edges of it, but I never saw them inside the thing laying down like my zebbies do and I sorta figured it was because it was too small for them.

A couple days ago during a brainstorming session, I salvaged from my 'collection' of various pet accessories a coconut half-shell hut. I drilled some holes in it, sanded down all the sharp edges, attached a 'front porch' perch to it and hung it inside their cage. It's got ample room for them both to lay down in, but it's been in there for two days now and they wont go near it.

The coconut shell has history -- it was previously in a hermit crab enclosure, and before that it was in a beardie cage. It's been sanitized after each application, of course, and like I said above, I really went at this time with a complete sanding of the entire outside. Is it possible that despite that enough 'predatory' scent is still there from the beardie to turn them off the thing? It's been more than a couple years since it was in that cage.

Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated, I feel bad seeing Sweet & Sour sleeping on their perches instead of in a proper nest.

[Sally]

I wouldn't think there would be any smell left from the previous occupants. I don't have experience with Javas, so don't know if this is correct for them, but many species do not like to sleep in nests. My waxbills only use nests for breeding/raising babies, the rest of the time they sleep on perches or tucked away inside a plastic plant. Hopefully, someone with Java experience will chime in here to say if they are nest sleepers or perch sleepers.

[cindy]

Javas do not need nest to sleep in...they are very prolific and given a nest they will breed.

You can give them a self like perch to sleep in but no nesting material (Are yours male and female?)

I have many javas of different mutations, none get a nest like structure to sleep in unless I am breeding them....then they get an 8x8 box.

[JackoftheGreen]

Yes, they're male and female. My female, Sweet, isn't in her adult plumage yet though. We intend to breed them in the future, but not yet obviously, and the breeder we bought them from was confident they'd only breed if given a box or other suitable covered structure. Are they likely to breed even with just a plain uncovered nest? And will they sleep in a nest even when not breeding? Our zebbies liked to sleep in their nest even before they started their clutch.

[cindy]

Males will mature faster then hens, hens should be between 9 to 12 months old before breeding. He could get aggressive in pursuing her if she is not ready and you provide a nest.

For future reference Javas like privacy when breeding, a 8x8 wooden nest box is what most breeders use/recommend. The young are large, clutches can be 4 to 10 big...open nest are to small, young can topple out or get crushed. No nest are recommend unless you are going to breed them...give them several different types of perches, swing to roost on. None of my non-breeders have nests.

[JackoftheGreen]

Thank you for all the additional information! My Javas are still quite young, I don't think either of them are older than 7 months and as yet the male has shown no courtship behavior of any kind. We watch them pretty close. (-:

I'm still unclear, though, on my core question, which is twofold. Do Java's like to sleep in nests, or is their preference for sleeping perched? Let's assume I were to separate Sweet and Sour and place them in their own individual cages. Would they then like a nest for sleeping?

Secondly, if they are nest sleeping birds, is there any obvious reason why the coconut shell hut isn't to their liking? Their previous smaller wicker nest they at least liked to perch on, but they wont go anywhere near the coconut.

Currently, Sweet and Sour are neither breeders nor non-breeders. They are pets. (-:

[mayble]

Speaking from my own experience, mine have always slept on perches. They just don't seem to care for sleeping nests like Societies and Zebras do. The only time they've used a nest is while raising babies, and shortly after the chicks fledged the whole family was back to sleeping on perches. Until they decided to go for a second clutch, that is. Then I removed the nestbox.
The coconut may be too small for them. From all that I've read, a parakeet nestbox is recommended because Javas are rather large finches with good size clutches, so they really need plenty of room to nest in.
I would leave the pair together, without a nest, until you decide to breed - then be prepared! I went from four to fourteen virtually overnight. Have a plan in place to either house your babies or find good homes for them. Those cages will get very crowded!
Good luck, and enjoy!

[cindy]

Javas do better in pairs or colony, they are flock birds, companionship is important...To separate them just for the purpose of providing a nest for each to sleep in would not be good for them since they are use to the companionship of each other. For the birds mental state of mind it would be best to keep them together.

As I wrote before giving them a nest is not good since eventually they will mature and with a nest they may come the time they decide to use their sleeping quarters to breed in it. They do just fine sleeping on a roosting shelf or perch at night, some sleep on swings.

Whether they are pets or breeders a nest is not recommended, it will encourage them to breed. I raise many of javas, some are handfed and pets, none get nests unless breeding.

[JackoftheGreen]

Speaking from my own experience, mine have always slept on perches. They just don't seem to care for sleeping nests like Societies and Zebras do.

Mayble, thank you.

When we're ready to breed our Java's, we will absolutely be providing them with an appropriate covered nesting box, and a large one to be sure. In the mean time, though, I want to provide them with whatever comforts they'd like. If they're perching birds, then, no nest, and that explains why they didn't even try to get inside the smaller nest.

Cindy, you obviously have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to breeding Java's, and I genuinely appreciate your input. Thank you.

[JackoftheGreen]

So my wonderful, lovely and industrious wife just couldn't let this go. She sat down with some natural hemp fiber and a large-gauge crochet needle and created this beauty. Apparently only momma knows how to make a nest, and daddy can't do it right, LoL.

See, here's my point -- recommended or not, he just looks too damn cozy in there to deny them these sleeping quarters. So far Sweet wont get inside, but Sour is snug as a bug.

20140110_015939 (300x225).jpg (90.11 KiB) Viewed 964 times

[cindy]

As stated earlier, males mature faster and hens take longer...he may start aggressively pursuing her, plucking, feather pulls may happen. Also if she mates to early or the nest stimulates her to lay eggs before she is fully mature you can end up with an egg bound hen due to her age.

Javas do not need nest to sleep in, you stated you wanted them as just pets but adding a nest gives them incentive to breed.

[lonchura_boi]

well said cindy.
the male of my pair becomes very aggressive towards the hen before breeding as he comes into breeding condition a day or two quicker than her and he becomes very aggressive. this is an adult pair... not a juvenile pair like in this thread. provision of a nest will cause problems. Also it is worth noting that if you do decided to breed from them in the future, javas much much much prefer a box to a basket, budgie style nest boxes suit them best

[cindy]

I use an 8x8 box for breeding only.....be warned the male can harm a hen if his hormones are driving him to breed and she is not ready. You may want to rethink that nest in their cage.

[30 Seconds to Bob]

I've kept some of my javas' offspring in cages without nests for well over a year. They do fine and simply don't require them. On the other hand, my breeding pairs of javas will usually fill a nest box with nesting material within a couple of days of it being offered. Translation: Nest box = strong trigger for breeding behavior in javas. Bob

[NorwichFinchman]

Javas will pick any type of nest to use. All my nest are treated with mite powder first and then wood chippings are placed on top of the powder. I offer nesting material in shredded paper and white coconut fibre and brown coconut fibre and I lay these in their cages or aviary and let them build their own. Cock Javas will place coconut fibre in their beaks and bounce up and down next to the hen on the perch trying to persuade her to breed and a nest will then be built.
Regards
Steve
http://birdkeeper.synthasite.com/