RATIO HENS TO COCKS COLONY BREEDING

Tips for successful breeding and troubleshooting breeding problems.
Post Reply
mick1933
Nestling
Nestling
Posts: 71
Joined: Sun Jul 02, 2017 7:19 pm
Location: Central Coast of NSW Australia

RATIO HENS TO COCKS COLONY BREEDING

Post by mick1933 » Sat Aug 19, 2017 7:36 pm

Hi. I am in the process of setting up my aviary to colony breed. My aviary is 12ft X6ft with 7ft sides and a higher gable. It is fully enclosed with a concrete floor. It faces north so it gets the full sun all day (I am in Australia).
I have read some articles where breeders say it is better in a colony situation to have more hens than cocks for species. Assuming this is correct if I put the following in the aviary with a ratio of 3 hens to 2 cocks will it work or am I asking for trouble. Orange Breast - Stars - Painted - Red Face Parrot Finch - Sea Green Parrot Finch - Gouldians with 1 pair of Cordon Blues. I am not breeding for colour or anything like that just want to breed so they pay some towards upkeep. Thanks.
10 Fyfe Canaries (bred a couple) ,2 pair of mosaic canaries,about 20 or so red factor canaries, 8 button quail, 1 fox terrier dogs (Roxi my girl dog died), no mice or rats but holes in the lawn.

Sheather
Proven
Proven
Posts: 2299
Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2013 7:49 pm
Location: Northwest Indiana

Re: RATIO HENS TO COCKS COLONY BREEDING

Post by Sheather » Sat Aug 19, 2017 7:38 pm

Even pairs of all species. Only some society finches will breed in trios.
~Dylan

~~~

User avatar
lovezebs
Mod Extraordinaire
Mod Extraordinaire
Posts: 18214
Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:51 am
Location: Calgary Alberta Canada

Re: RATIO HENS TO COCKS COLONY BREEDING

Post by lovezebs » Sun Aug 20, 2017 9:53 am

mick1933

Hi Mick,

Agree with Dylan.

If you have an uneven number of males or females, you'll run into trouble with the odd male or female bothering the breeding pair.

Good luck.
~Elana~

Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~

mick1933
Nestling
Nestling
Posts: 71
Joined: Sun Jul 02, 2017 7:19 pm
Location: Central Coast of NSW Australia

Re: RATIO HENS TO COCKS COLONY BREEDING

Post by mick1933 » Sun Aug 20, 2017 8:04 pm

Thanks for the advice, back to the drawing board.
10 Fyfe Canaries (bred a couple) ,2 pair of mosaic canaries,about 20 or so red factor canaries, 8 button quail, 1 fox terrier dogs (Roxi my girl dog died), no mice or rats but holes in the lawn.

User avatar
lovezebs
Mod Extraordinaire
Mod Extraordinaire
Posts: 18214
Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:51 am
Location: Calgary Alberta Canada

Re: RATIO HENS TO COCKS COLONY BREEDING

Post by lovezebs » Mon Aug 21, 2017 4:55 pm

mick1933

I notice the Budgie numbers are coming down... :D
~Elana~

Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~

mick1933
Nestling
Nestling
Posts: 71
Joined: Sun Jul 02, 2017 7:19 pm
Location: Central Coast of NSW Australia

Re: RATIO HENS TO COCKS COLONY BREEDING

Post by mick1933 » Wed Aug 23, 2017 1:42 am

Yes Elana only got 19 left and will get rid of them end of next month. Have started converting my aviaries into one and getting thing ready to get some finches. l lot of work. I am also thinking about starting a mealworm farm. Regards Mick.
10 Fyfe Canaries (bred a couple) ,2 pair of mosaic canaries,about 20 or so red factor canaries, 8 button quail, 1 fox terrier dogs (Roxi my girl dog died), no mice or rats but holes in the lawn.

User avatar
lovezebs
Mod Extraordinaire
Mod Extraordinaire
Posts: 18214
Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:51 am
Location: Calgary Alberta Canada

Re: RATIO HENS TO COCKS COLONY BREEDING

Post by lovezebs » Wed Aug 23, 2017 9:56 am

mick1933

Mealworm farms are interesting, and I've had one going for a while now (with a few false starts :D )

A lot cheaper than buying the little guys.
~Elana~

Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~

mick1933
Nestling
Nestling
Posts: 71
Joined: Sun Jul 02, 2017 7:19 pm
Location: Central Coast of NSW Australia

Re: RATIO HENS TO COCKS COLONY BREEDING

Post by mick1933 » Thu Aug 24, 2017 1:38 am

Will be glad when I get things up and running. The more I read the more confused I end up. I want to keep some canaries and I like Singers but was told by a canary man that I couldn't keep singers and canaries in the same aviary as they would fight. Tuned on the computer this morning to YouTube and what do I see? An aviary of singers and canaries happy together. As I said, it gets confusing.
regards
10 Fyfe Canaries (bred a couple) ,2 pair of mosaic canaries,about 20 or so red factor canaries, 8 button quail, 1 fox terrier dogs (Roxi my girl dog died), no mice or rats but holes in the lawn.

Sheather
Proven
Proven
Posts: 2299
Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2013 7:49 pm
Location: Northwest Indiana

Re: RATIO HENS TO COCKS COLONY BREEDING

Post by Sheather » Thu Aug 24, 2017 3:34 am

Green singers and canaries in an aviary will not fight.
~Dylan

~~~

User avatar
lovezebs
Mod Extraordinaire
Mod Extraordinaire
Posts: 18214
Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:51 am
Location: Calgary Alberta Canada

Re: RATIO HENS TO COCKS COLONY BREEDING

Post by lovezebs » Thu Aug 24, 2017 3:28 pm

mick1933

I think it has to do with the colours of the Canaries (if I remember right).
Birds that are of a similar colour, are often seen by Green Singers as competition and they may go after them during breeding season.

If I remember correctly, you were interested in Red or Orange Canaries, which I think should not present a problem.
~Elana~

Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~

Post Reply