Brooding Macaw Hen (BG Banu) Eggs 17 & 18

[felisdomesticus]

Originally Posted by yehudasf

Generally the best practices are to control the photoperiod so that the hen never gets the light-cycle induced cues to begin the cycle.

How much light should they get to avoid this?

[spectre]

thanks for the information. I like to learn as much as possible about prevention .

I hope your girl ends up ok.

[The Outlaw]

Another source of calcium is oyster shell calcium. I buy it at BJs and using a mortar and pestal, crush it up. I add about 1/4 tsp. a few times a week per macaw. Dark colored leafy greens such as collard greens, turnip greens, kale, swiss chard, mustart green and spinach (not very much in spinach) are excellent calcium sources.

You can control the amount of light in your bird's room by instally full spectrum bulbs and putting them on timers.

[felisdomesticus]

Originally Posted by The Outlaw

You can control the amount of light in your bird's room by instally full spectrum bulbs and putting them on timers.

and set the timers to what? What is the threshold at which birds will begin nesting behaviors?

[Spinnergirl]

Yehudasf,

What a great informative post, I had no idea about a lot/most of that stuff!!

Thanks for posting it here for all of us, as to avoid that road to egg laying and the problems it can bring!!!!

[The Outlaw]

I believe that longer light periods usually start hormonal breeding cycles in many hens. You would shorten the light hours. Instead of 12 hours of light, you would begin shortening them to 10 or even as low as 8. Depends on the bird, the time of year and the age of the bird.