now what? male and female - no want hybrid

[dmiller91]

Okay,

So I confess the reason I got another pyrrhura is because I wanted a CBC. And I love her. I debated Male or Female? I'm quite sure I drove the breeder crazy, changing my mind.

I got the female because my sun is female and the breeder thought she would take to my sun. I like the idea of birds getting along.

I should've known that pyrrhura's love other pyrrhuras. You always see them in clumps, ya know?

So she hates the sun, which is fine. She's downright bossy and mean to her, which is kind of chuckle actually, seeing as how she was raised with suns. BUT she LOVES the Green Cheek and the Green Cheek LOVES her.

So now I've got what I wanted, my GC has lessened his attacks on everyone else, but I'm faced with a pair that are going to want to breed.

So how do I manage this? They are in separate cages, but they love to be together when they are out. They call to each other when they are out in different areas. What is going to happen when they breed? Do I accept it and just deal with eggs? It seems a lot of hassle to keep them apart even when they are out, they're already good buddies, and that worked how I wanted. Is it really hard on her to lay eggs that I don't let hatch?

Probably no worries until spring, but I don't want to do something now that causes me grief later.

Ideas?

[expressmailtome]

All that you have to do is boil the eggs and then put them back. That way they do not hatch and she will not just keep going as she will sit on them until she decides that she is done with them. It is not bad for them at all.

Matt

[Monica]

Just because the two get along so well doesn't mean they'll breed. Even if they do, it doesn't mean there will be eggs. Even if there are eggs, there are no guarantees that they'll hatch.

Assuming that they ever do lay eggs (and you have a male and female), you can either boil the eggs, or replace them with fake eggs.

[Cotora]

Wow Interesting dilema, Im learning myself!

[dmiller91]

okay thanks. Me thinkin' there will be breeding. Pepper is practicing :)

Never thought of boiling. Good idea, less rotten less quick?

They are dna'd male and female.

[Monica]

I've heard of people addling the eggs, and I've also heard this doesn't work all that well, all the time.

Boiling keeps the eggs from hatching. You could also freeze the eggs, and I assume this can be just as effective, but I'm not entirely sure.


If you don't want to go the route of boiling or freezing the eggs, then simply buy fake eggs.... you can get them from various vendors, different prices.

[dmiller91]

So then, the answer to my underlying question is really.... just let them be friends?

As long as they are in separate cages, so far I have no aggression toward me, and they are lovey when out of their cages.

I have female bird friends in the flock so I guess as far as the that part goes, it's not different. But it may be a friends with benefits kind of thing depending on how they choose to spend their out of cage time.

[Monica]

Yep, I'd say that's the way to go! I know of someone who has a pair of cockatiels that have been mating for over a year now... no eggs! I've had one pair of cockatiels (brother and sister) that before they got separated, they would occasionally mate (but no eggs).

I have, however, gotten eggs from other birds... infertile, of course. I deal with it when the time comes, but don't encourage it.

[dmiller91]

Excellent! Thanks!

[xafsmom]

If you addle the eggs, it works fine. But you have to shake them like you're playing the maracas like a rock band drum solo for about 30-60 seconds. The problem with boiling is that it changes the smell. This means the hens end up eating the eggs (which is fine lol) but, potentially laying a lot more to replace them.

Fakes are bestest.