QUESTION:
Hi Gail,
I know you
don't breed turquoisines but I have a pair that I have had for three years but I
have had no babies. Can you tell me how to get them to breed or let me know of
someone that can help me. Thank you. -Marjorie
Hello
Marjorie, I did a quick search and you're right, there doesn't seem to be much
out there about them. They sound as though they need more flight space than
Bourkes, but otherwise are very similar. They use a parakeet-sized box with
wood chips or moss in the bottom. I find buying pine shavings (for hamsters,
etc.) works perfectly for the Bourkes and probably would for Turks too.
You don’t
say what color your birds are. I’ve read the males have a red bar on the wing,
but those that are all yellow may not. Is it possible you have two males? With
Bourkes, when one male is dominant he sometimes intimidates the other male to
behave as a female and allow himself to be fed, and that makes it difficult to
sex them if they’re Rosies. By adding two hens, it allows both males to act as
nature intended. Just a possibility for yours if they aren't the wild color.
Things to consider:
1. Are you
sure you have one of both sexes?
2. Birds all
need plenty of daylight to be inspired to breed. So, if they are in a dimly lit
room some of the time, turn the lights on. Only 8 hours of darkness per 24-hour
period.
3. Do they
have the right kind of nest box and is it mounted high in your cage? Do not sit
it on the floor.
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| Male Turquoisine. Most notable difference from a male Splendid parakeet is the red bar on the shoulder. |
4. Do they
have enough flight space? I keep my nest boxes mounted outside the cage to
allow as much flight space as possible. I’ve read that Turks require even more
flight space than Bourkes do to exercise.
5. Are they
getting healthy foods besides just seed? Plenty of calcium in the form of
cuttlebone, mineral block, oyster shell? I read Turks like greens. Fresh
chopped Kale is a Bourke favorite. They also get cooked sweet corn,
peas and carrots. Although fresh shredded carrots are good too. Egg food is a
favorite when getting ready to breed or while raising babies. We take hard
boiled eggs and put them in a blender with plenty of dry bread crumbs and
finely mix everything together, including the egg shells. We grind the egg shell
fine first and then blend it back in. Refrigerate the mix and give a little fresh
each day, removing the old (don't leave it in the cage for more than a few
hours) I add it in the morning and take it out at dinner time. It's in there
6 to 9 hours, but our house is cool. On a warm day it will go bad sooner
and should be removed in less time.
6. Sometimes adding another pair of birds in
their area encourages breeding. Or, perhaps the next pair will do better.
Sometimes competition encourages them, or maybe they will learn from others.
7. Occasionally
a pair simply don't like each other. Switching to new partners usually works. I've done that
several times with pairs that bickered. It
stopped when they got new mates and we had successful clutches thereafter. All birds have their own individual
personalities and sometimes certain birds don't get along with a particular hen
or cock, but will be happy with a different one.
Good Luck.
If you don't have the nest box set-up recommended above, give that a try.
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| Photo from Pandemonium Aviaries |
Below is a
little more information I learned doing research for this article:
The
courtship display of all male Turquoisine parakeets involves a soft whistling. The hen lays four to five eggs and she incubates them alone (just like a Bourke or Splendid). The incubation period is 17 to 19 days (with
Bourkes it is 18 to 21 days). The cock bird feeds her while she is sitting and
for a further few days after the chicks have hatched (same as with Bourkes).
Both parents then feed the young. When raising young you can include soaked and
sprouted seeds, soaked bread, green food and spray millet.
Male
Turquoisines can be aggressive toward other males of this
species. It's best to provide each pair with its own cage or flight. This is important
during the breeding season, as you can expect a lot of bickering and even
fighting among males. It is less likely to be a problem when housed with
canaries or finches, or even other species of parakeet.
Still, be sure there is
enough flight room for any and all the birds you put together.
