African grey breeding questions

[bruboy87]

I recently brought a pair of african greys from a breeder. I spoke to him and seems to be a very knowledgeable person as he has been breeding and raising chicks all the time. The pair that I got of him was a 10 year old pair and the last time they bred was in 2014. I have all the DNA and certificates and other paper work to show they are what they are.

So, I've put them in a separate cage with an L shaped nest box (18inch tall and 2ft lenght and 1ft wide). They have been using the nest box a lot male comes feeds himself and then the female comes out and feeds herself as they are taking it in turns. I've only seen them maybe couple of times when they are out together and have seen them feeding each other as well (twice). I have seen them spending most of the time in the nest box at times and most of the occasions i've seen the male outside as well. During night, they have both been inside the nestbox and on one occasion they male was out for a brief moment and then went back in. From what I've seen, female spends most of her time in the nest box whereas the male does spend time inside the nest box and outside.

Their diet is varied which include pulses, every now and then apple, pomegranate seeds, boiled egg with shell on it, omega 3 cod liver oil orange flavour with necton E and S supplements. I have forgot to add salt as they like having salt on their food as well. They love pomegranate seeds as well.

Any ideas and what you think. Please share )))))

 

[Owlet]

what exactly is your question

 

[OutlawedSpirit]

First, I would say stop adding salt asap. It is in no way good for them. Then, you should remove the nest box.

Second, before you even think about actually breeding these birds, you should really research the proper care and diet of an African Grey. They need higher amounts of calcium than other parrots because they are susceptible to deficiencies, which is a concern in breeding birds anyway.

Have you taken them to have a wellness exam by a Certified Avian Vet yet? You should not even consider breeding birds until they are cleared as being healthy enough for breeding by a Certified Avian Vet.

Finally, you need to really research everything that is involved with breeding parrots before you just dive into it. Start by visiting the breeding subforum and reading all of the stickies at the top. Then, if you can find a breeder close to you, see if you can get them, or your Certified Avian Vet, to show you the proper way to hand feed. Whether you actually plan on hand feeding or not, you need to know how to, as well as have all of the supplies necessary before your hen lays her first egg. When breeding, things can, and do, go very wrong very fast. You have to be ready to intervene and pull chicks away from the parents at any stage of the process. This could include having to pull a chick as young as a day old and having to keep it in a temperature controlled brooder while hand feeding it with an eyedropper every two hours around the clock.

 

[itzjbean]

No salt, and expand the diet and offer them many more vegetables and fruits. Take the nestbox out until you can learn more about the species, their dietary needs and find a local breeder to gain some breeding and handfeeding experience before diving in with little knowledge.

 

[bruboy87]

Thank you for your comments, i'll make sure i follow your input.

 

[bruboy87]

Thanks you for your comments, i'll make sure i follow your input.

 

[bruboy87]

African Grey Parrot Diet | African Grey Parrot Centre ? Articles

 

[EllenD]

This is a nightmare...I'm sorry, but you obviously know nothing about even caring for adult African Grays, so how do expect to raise babies? And why, to sell?

As already stated, the diet you are feeding them is horrible, SALT IS TERRIBLE FOR BIRDS AND WILL EVENTUALLY KILL THEM, and they will not breed on that diet anyway. They need lots and lots of fresh veggies and fruits every day, along with a high-protein, vitamin enriched pellet diet with supplemental seeds and nuts.

You should have a huge cage for 2 African Grays to live in, and yes, please remove the nest box, as THESE BIRDS HAVEN'T BRED IN 4 YEARS DESPITE BEING IN A CAGE TOGETHER, WHICH MEANS THEY ARE IN NO PHYSICAL/HEALTH CONDITION TO BREED, AND LAYING EGGS COULD KILL THE FEMALE. You need to remove the nest box, find a Certified Avian Vet and take them both in for blood work and a wellness exam, totally change what you are feeding them and get them on a proper, nutritious, varied diet that is appropriate for African Grays, and keep them on that diet for months to years before even thinking about breeding them. You cannot just throw a nest box in a tiny cage with 2 large parrots who haven't laid eggs in 4 years, feeding them a terrible and nutrition-deficient diet that includes salt, and sit and watch and wait for them to lay eggs so you can sell the babies. That's awful.

 

[SailBoat]

In addition to the comments provided above, I would like to add a couple of points regarding the individual you purchased your Parrots.

Since your Parrots are ten years old and the last time they laid eggs was in 2014. The math does not make much sense, nor does the logic.

Lets start with the logic first: Why would a breeder sell a young productive pair? More than likely because they are not productive and the breeder is cutting his losses by selling them to someone with very little, to no experience. This allows him to blame you, if the Parrots continue to not lay eggs.

Now for the Math: African Greys tend to breeder younger than Amazons. But in both cases, it is rare that the first several years for them to lay and hatch eggs. To have laid eggs and then not for the last three to four years is odd. It is likely why (see above) that the breeder elected to sell this non-producing couple. Yes, they could and likely are not healthy enough. In addition, it is just as likely that they have never been a producing couple.

As stated above, you really need to get them on a healthy diet! And, pull that Nest Box.

Also as stated above, you need to get them into a Certified Avian Vet for a complete /detailed health evaluation. As part of the complete blood testing have them DNA sex tested. After all, it does not appear that your seller was totally honest with you regarding other issues, why not regarding their sex?