Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:16 am Post subject: GREETINGS FROM SCOTLAND (pics of my birds)
hi i joined a few months ago but never got around to introducing myself
but i do read most of the threads,and have learned a lot about mutations,
i got introduced to red fronted kaks about 4 months ago, and wish i have discovered them a lot sooner, i have a large aviary with 14 adult kaks (7 pairs) and 3 young, that ive kept back cos i liked the look of them, i have 3 hens sitting on clutches, and im handrearing 3 young,
i was lucky i managed to buy a colony of established kaks when the owner died, and his daughter was selling off all of his birds,
so far ive bred 32 kaks, in 4 months, with my biggest clutch being 7 who all survived, after the present clutches are reared i plan to take down the nestboxes for a while
here are a few pics of my birds, i also breed many other types of birds
Yes we have a lot of visitors and members who visit the site on a regular basis.
It interesting u mention obtaining an established flock, relocated and breed very successfully in a single large flight..substantuates some of our findings, in smaller flights
Can you give more details on size, number of birds, and pairs, location of nesting boxes, how many per pair, distance between, and are they in line of sight?
Any issues, further suggestion to try would be great to.
What you are achieving is of great interest, 'new' ground and important information for future breeding for conservation projects. _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
hi Steptoe,
i travelled just under 100 miles to pick up the colony
i even brought back a hen sitting on 2 eggs, she went on to lay another 2 eggs a few days after the move to my home, 3 eggs hatched, one was clear, the size of my indoor flight is 10ft x 10ft its a garden shed with double doors that are meshed so i can open them, and a seperate entrance to get inside, i have an outdoor flight attached to the shed, 16ft x 8ft, originally i had it opened for the kaks to use but found most of them prefered to stay indoors, i had a few nestboxes in it, but the kaks didnt seem interested, they had access to it up until about 4 weeks ago,when i eventually gave that to a colony of finches and diamond doves,
the kaks nesting boxes are placed at the top of my shed walls roughly the entrance hole of the nest box is 6ft from the ground, the nest boxes are placed about 18 inches apart, i have 10 nest boxes fixed to the shed walls, and 3 on the ground, the ones on the ground were waiting to be cleaned, and fresh nesting material placed inside, but i found one hen likes to nest low down, and double clutched in those ground boxes, so i have left them, what i have found is my hens prefer south facing nestboxes and sometimes fight for them, ive also found that my hens will enter other nestboxes with chicks in and feed them, as if they were their own,the mother doesnt seem to mind at all
Travel 100 miles, a couple sitting..and carry on, yes there are many posts along these lines, and we have experianced similar behavour
How many in the colony?
nest boxes 18" apart...do they nest in boxes side by side or how far apart?
The sth facing is interesting, we have found nth facing is prefered, but rem we are in the sth hemisphere.
Our hi boxes tend to be quite deep, stops chicks emerging too early and damaging themselves to the floor.
The out door flight, from what u say, I assume the roof is open?? kakariki prefer the forrest, we had ours 1/2 open, fully covered roof with construction ply and they then came to the front of the flight more often,
Yo8r kakariki are 2x clutching in the same box, not going to box nearby for the 2nd clutch? (leaving the male to look after them and her) that is unusual.... _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
It is great to hear that we also have Scottish breeders among us. We are planning to make a trip to Scotland next year. In fact this will be a part of something that is getting out of hand. To be brief, we established a Clann. Together with our wifes we are counting 10 members. On special occasions we wear the 'Kilt'. This is the Douglas Tartan. We even have a Clann name. 'Clann na cnuic' which is Gaelic and should mean 'People of the hills'. The Scottish spirit is very much alive hear in Belgium. Regularly there is a meeting for enthusiasts like me. In September we have 'The Scottish days' in a castle near Hasselt. This is a weekend happening with 1000's of people. There are highland games, whisky tasting, piper contest...
And now back on topic
skeg wrote:
what i have found is my hens prefer south facing nestboxes and sometimes fight for them,
Interesting, can you tell where the entrance is pointing at? I mean, is it on the front or is it pointing to a corner? I heard of other species who won't breed at all until the entrance hole was pointing to a corner, which gave the pair a feeling of security.
Most off or flights face nth (sth hemisphere) the boxes on the back wall
They prefer the enterance facing out rather than to a cnr or side
We also find direct line of sight to another 'in use' nesting box in the next flight causes issues... _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
How many in the colony?
nest boxes 18" apart...do they nest in boxes side by side or how far apart?
there are 7 cocks and 7 hens, the nestboxes are placed 18" to 2ft away from each other all at the same height
The sth facing is interesting, we have found nth facing is prefered, but rem we are in the sth hemisphere.
maybe my birds are thinking of home and it is bloody freezing up here in scotland
Our hi boxes tend to be quite deep, stops chicks emerging too early and damaging themselves to the floor.
my boxes are same size as cockatiel boxes, roughly 18" deep
The out door flight, from what u say, I assume the roof is open?? kakariki prefer the forrest, we had ours 1/2 open, fully covered roof with construction ply and they then came to the front of the flight more often,
the roof was open, with wire over the top, but it rains a lot here in scotland, so i covered it with corrugated clear sheeting, and left about 6ft uncovered as some of the birds liked to shower in the rain
Yo8r kakariki are 2x clutching in the same box, not going to box nearby for the 2nd clutch? (leaving the male to look after them and her) that is unusual....
ive only had 1 hen double clutch in the same box, the one that was on the ground
what i have found is my hens prefer south facing nestboxes and sometimes fight for them,
Interesting, can you tell where the entrance is pointing at? I mean, is it on the front or is it pointing to a corner? I heard of other species who won't breed at all until the entrance hole was pointing to a corner, which gave the pair a feeling of security.
[b]
hi peter,
the entrance is on the front, its not pointing to the corner,
i really didnt expect to breed so many kaks so soon, i thought it would take them longer to establish themselves in a brand new aviary, but they seem to be happy, and are full of fun, if one of them gets a little vocal, or if they have a wee squabble ive found the dominant male will step up onto the back of the other bird, then hop straight back off, and thats usually followed by total silence from all the other birds, ive spent long hours sitting watching them and studying thier behavour
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