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mutationpyrrhuras@tiscali.co.uk

. ....07793-580307

There is very little I can add to what has been published on breeding these small quiet Conures. I will elaborate on a few point of observation I have made.

Single birds of any age can safely be kept in quite large groups, but only 1 pair for breeding per cage/aviary is advised as cocks and hens can become very aggressive when breeding.

I prefer to pair potential breeding pairs as early as possible. The only draw back is pair may begin to breed younger then ideal. I have had a hen bird only 7 months old paired to a slightly older cock lay 6 eggs hatch and rear all six without any ill affect.

Also this year (2007) I had a Hen Blue Cinnamon GreenCheeked lay 9 eggs which resulted in 8 fertile & 1 clear,3 hatched....1 died & the other two were reared well.......if only!!!!

The main worry in pairing young birds may be egg binding however the only bird in my collection to be egg bound was a proven 4yr old bird!.

Most of my Conures commence breeding around 1 year old.

All my birds are bred in a bird room, during winter months I provide full spectrum lighting in the form of fluorescent tubes which need to be replaced every 12 months to remain effective. Lights come on at around 16.00 hrs Summer 07.00 Winter and go off by the way of an automatic dimmer system at 22.00 hrs.

No heat is ever given to my birds even though it gets so cold the water bowls can & do freeze solid.It is my belief that giving heat may induce a premature moult,thus interrupting the natural breeding cycle.

Each of my nest boxes have observation holes cut in the top which I can pop a camera in to observe any pair that may be a problem in any way.Under no circumstances should you drive the parent birds from the nest...only a complete fool would do this....wait for the parents to leave naturally or use cameras.

Nest box sizes are 14 inches high 10 inches square & are made from 3/4" marine ply & 2" thick softwood. I use "SnowFlake" or "Easibed" standard as a nesting material.

Most pairs lay between 4 to 7 eggs the average being 5. Incubation is 23 days & youngsters fledge around 7/8 weeks and normaly stay with there parents for a further 2 weeks. If the parents commence to lay a 2nd clutch the first round chicks must be removed as soon as they are weaned for there own safety. If I have three babies in 1 nest and 5 in another I will foster babies to one another to balance things out. All fostering is only done after birds are rung to ensure correct parentage.

If babies are to be sexed I quite often take samples for DNA sexing from babies in the nest but only when the rings first go on...... normally around 12/14 days.....size N is the correct size for GreenCheeked.

Babies not needed to go into my breeding program are hand reared to make the most wonderful pets. I usually remove babies when the first feathers appear around 4 weeks as at that age they require little or no heat and there is very little work left in hand rearing them as long as they are kept at room temp.

We dont take eggs or very young chicks to induce the parents to lay again & again & again.

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