Pairs mixed up?

RoboHip · Snr Member Joined: Jan 18, 2011 Posts: 68

So Pickles and Pepper are a couple and I bought Buzz for a mate for Shandy.

I have them all in a large flight at present on a high protein diet before I seperate them in to their pairs and set them off for breeding.

My understanding of kakarikis are they are quite fickle when it comes to mates and unlike budgies you can't just select 2 as the bonds they form are extremely strong, so effectively you have to follow their lead.

I was quite pleased that the 2 pairs I had bought as pairs were continuing to stick together in the flight. Pickles and Pepper have been together for almost a year now and I bought them as a pair, so strong bond. I was hoping that Shandy and Buzz would form a relationship also.

However.... I have just been up to the birdroom and found Pickles to be having it away with Shandy, whilst Pepper & Buzz were sleeping Think

Believe me, Shandy didn't look like she was under duress either.

So is this just a fling? or does this mean Pepper has been dumped and now Shandy is Pickles's girl? I have no idea duno

pabloc · Foundation Member Joined: Sep 26, 2007 Posts: 903

kakariki males are usually willing to court and mate with other hens
there's the old saying that "loving your wife doesn't mean you have to hate all ladies"
(hope my gf never reads this)

cockatiels aren't also very reliable in a colony set-up, and budgie males are the most flirty thing I have ever seen. I have a single budgie male in one of my flights and he flirts with kakarikis, cockatiels, a lineolated 'keet, a plumhead and a barraband.
If the males barraband and plumhead didn't protest everytime the budgie gets close, I'm sure the budgie would be willing to take them both for a little ride behind the bushes.

I have also seen XXX pictures of a male kakariki doing giggity giggity with a crimson wing parrot.

May · Site Admin Joined: Apr 03, 2008 Posts: 281

from what i have noticed with mine ....it seems to be the females that let the males know they are up for it and even if a male has bonded he will go for it with another hen if his mate is out of the way and shes coming onto him enough.....

ive also had two female sisters trying to mate... and a male budgie feeding a male kakariki and trying to mate with him................. its a mixed up world of feathers!

RoboHip · Snr Member Joined: Jan 18, 2011 Posts: 68

Thanks peeps, I will see how they go in the original pairs I had in mind.

LOL @ Pabloc and the saying you quoted and you want to hope she doesn't read it Whistle

pabloc · Foundation Member Joined: Sep 26, 2007 Posts: 903

RoboHip · Snr Member Joined: Jan 18, 2011 Posts: 68

After finding an egg in the flight I decided to put Shandy & Pickles (the forbidden love couple Whistle

) together in the breeding area on Saturday. Shandy took immediate interest in the nest box and was in there most of Sunday.

I had a peek in there yesterday and both Shandy & Pickles were in there and later they both left and I took another sneaky peek and they have an egg <v>

May · Site Admin Joined: Apr 03, 2008 Posts: 281

RoboHip · Snr Member Joined: Jan 18, 2011 Posts: 68

Thanks May. I held my breath first and said OMG, then I went in the house and found everyone and then squealed like a 2 year old happy^

May · Site Admin Joined: Apr 03, 2008 Posts: 281

............. sounds like what i do........ at the mo i have 1 chick in a nest box and mum doesnt mind me baby sitting while she is having some eating time .... this am i took him up to see my boyfriend who was still in bed and it snuggled up next to him..... was sooooooo lush.....

mine seem to lay everyother dayish .... so keep us informed :)

RoboHip · Snr Member Joined: Jan 18, 2011 Posts: 68

Awe that's really cute

I am hoping they will be pretty chilled with me and also making sure I give them their space too Wink

Will def keep you updated and good luck with your little chick - any more due for hatching?

May · Site Admin Joined: Apr 03, 2008 Posts: 281

not yet.... it was the ony one hatch from the 10 she layed....... but although she has hatched 3 clutches before she is now with a new male as from june as i unfortunatly lost her old mate Sad

who was an excelent daddy... so they havent done bad really...... another pair didnt hatch any but they are newly paired too and the male i got when he was about 3 years old and im doubtful if he is fertile Sad

none of their eggs hatched.... i took a few pics of baby fluff this am ... will try post d'oh!

RoboHip · Snr Member Joined: Jan 18, 2011 Posts: 68

Would be lovely to see pics.

This is their first clutch so not sure what will come of it Rolling Eyes

May · Site Admin Joined: Apr 03, 2008 Posts: 281

Petals 1st clutch didnt hatch.... (2009) but she went on n layed a 2nd straight away and 2 hatched (i still have these 2 females... known as big and little) her next clutch she hatched 3 and the next 5 dont be too disapointed if the 1st lot dont hatch

have posted some pics on thread about my birds Wink

RoboHip · Snr Member Joined: Jan 18, 2011 Posts: 68

That's great news and I will wait and see what comes of this clutch - what will be will be.

I've bred budgies for a number of years now and only had one clutch in 50 have all infertile eggs but he was a show bird and couldn't 'connect' to the hen due to all of his fluff.

I've checked on her this morning and still just the one egg, she seems quite comfortable having me peeking in and just sits there and squeaks, will def keep you updated though Wink

I really appreciate all of your input - thank you so much and I'm looking forward to sharing this journey with you

pabloc · Foundation Member Joined: Sep 26, 2007 Posts: 903

good luck with those eggs!
if you are kinda impatient like I am, it will be a couple of weeks of waiting :)
I'm like a little kid, when I see eggs in my nests I still get excited

keep us updated