When will she let him near her? If at all!

[kristiscovers]

Good afternoon all. I have not posted anything in quite sometime although I have been frequently enjoying pics and stories from all of you!. However I feel the need to get some answers if you would be willing to answer them!

I have a pair that have been together for about a month and a half now. I have had the hen for almost two years and the male almost 7 months. I had another male that passed away about two months ago. They never mated just lived together happily for a good while.

There has always been a nesting box in there that they have showed little interest in. I recently took it out and revamped the bird house and added a new nesting box so now there are two. She is in love with the new box. she has removed anything that I put in there for her to lay and she spends long amounts of time in there like 10 mins a whack.

These two birds seem to have a love hate realtionship. One minute she lets him nurture, feed and preen her and the next it is like an "ACK-ACK-ACK" fest over there. With flying all over and just a very long and drawn out game of tag.

In the mean time when she is out and about she almost seems panicky about giong in and out of the box rustling around in there.

Also this is the first time I have noticed her cere to be a really almost chocolate color.

What is up and will she ever let him near her to do the deed?!

Any suggestions might help ease my curiosities!

I look forward to your help,
Kristi

[helloyo53]

Well since her cere is turning to that "chocolate" colour, which should be flaky also, that means she's going into breeding condition. She has been in the nestbox? If so, then she might be preparing it, and since she is going into breeding condition,s he might end up mating. She might let him near him to, well you know;). Good luck, and keep us informed!:)

[kristiscovers]

I peeked in the box since it has a flap on the backside of it so we can see in there if needed and she has the corner all burrowed out and clean. She goes back to the perch and sits all fluffed up and preening. Then back she goes. I introduced him into her cage and I sometimes think maybe she is just being territorial and it may take a bit to get use to him. I am sure it sometimes takes this long to adjust, right?

By the way I made this box from an old speaker. I took the actual speaker out and that hole is the side where we can peek, i just attached a pc of black duck cloth for a door flap, and she uses the other side for her entrance.

[Budgiebreeder11]

Sometimes my females are more aggressive towards the males when they are starting to come into mating season. The cocks are usually ready to mate before the hens are.

[Guthwulf]

Not all hens like having males in the box. I had a breeding pair that mated every chance they got, and then another pair i never saw breed at all. Both laid fertile eggs, so for all you know they are breeding every morning until you get up and then they are too shy!

It looks like the female is preparing to lay whether or not the male has done his thing. You'll soon find out either way!

[kristiscovers]

Alright, so another day of the same old she's lovin' the box stuff. Nothing yet though. She is still very fluttery and spastic. And she's been chewing up all the branches and anything wood in the cage. Her fave is around the opening of the box! Every now and then she will let him come up to the door of the box then she chases him off. Go figure.

My next two question for you all would be... approximately how long from when she starts this behavior would you normally expect to see an egg? Assuming that they are sneaking when we are away or sleeping. And even if they are not successfully mating would she still be going to lay?

By the way, I really love all of the birds you all have. The colors are so bright and pretty!

[Guthwulf]

Once a hen has shown serious interest in a nest box, you can generally expect to see an egg anywhere from as soon as 7 days later to as late as 18 days later. Of course you can see eggs sooner for experienced breeding hens, or later for first time hens. Depends on what point they are at in their cycle, what condition they are in and whether they are in the box to breed or play :P (Generally hens go in to breed, but some just love to chew and hide).

And yes, if she is going to lay, it doesnt matter if she has mated or not. Laying and mating are two different things. Hens do not need males around to lay. They need males to make babies however (fertile eggs) :P

[Zeena]

There are some things that you can look for that will indicate your hen is about to lay. One of them would be stool size. The size of her poop will be at least twice the normal size.
Does she sleep in the nestbox now? that's another indicator that i have used in the past when breeding. It shows that she sees the nestbox as a safe haven for any furture eggs :)
Well Dean has pointed out all the important points so i think you've got good advice on your hands :)