One of the first signs I see is the food intake greatly increases. If you monitor and ration your feed this will become very apparent. As they eat more I feed more. At the height of breeding they are consuming almost twice the amount as they normally do.
Secondly,
I see (or maybe I
should say smell)
the sweet odor of
the hen.
I notice it
in the nest boxes
first.
I can usually
smell hens housed
outdoors when about
five feet away when
I’m feeding.
This is the
powder down smell,
only much stronger.
It has nothing to do
with their droppings
taking on an odor,
much as some birds
do.
Thirdly,
I notice small tufts
of down all over the
cage and floor. This
appears to be the
downy feathers right
where the tail and
body meet on each
side.
The tail
almost has a pinched
look where it joins
the body rather than
one continuous line.
The hen
plucks these out and
I assume this is for
easier access by the
male.
COURTSHIP AND MATING
In the African
Grey’s general
play,
many times
they will hang from
the top of their
flight and spar.
If this is
unknown to the
breeder, it almost
appears that they
are fighting because
it can become quite
physical.
I think this
is a good sign in a
pair.
During
courtship the two
will droop their
wings as they hold
them slight
ly
away from their
bodies and walk back
and forth on their
perch.
While doing
this, they will turn
and twirl
horizontally on the
perch.
The hen seems
to make a little
grunting noise while
doing this.
It seems the
hen controls the
activity (so
what’s new?) with
all the gestures and
body language. The
hen will slide up
next to the male and
bite his foot
encouraging him to
raise his leg.
Once he gets
the idea she leans
forward and into him
to make the mounting
easier.
Once mounted
the male drops his
wings on each side
of her for
stability.
While
copulation takes
place, the male will
feed the hen
numerous times.
This may also
be a way of
stabilizing his
hold.
Copulation
can last up to 20
minutes, and appears
to be a very
deliberate, caring,
and pleasurable act
for both parties.
Once mating
is over they both
usually shake out
their feathers and
go for food.
A lot of the
breeding in my
aviaries takes place
about 10 a.m. and
near 4 p.m.
EGG LAYING
Egg
laying can take as
long as a month
after the onset of
breeding.
Once the hen
starts laying, the
eggs are normally
laid every third
day.
I have seen
some start setting
immediately, but
normally a hen will
begin setting when
the second egg is
laid.
I gauge my
hatch time by going
about 28 days after
the first egg is
laid, regardless of
when incubation
started. I believe
Greys will be more
secure, and produce
better, if you are
not constantly
peeking in their
bedroom. Since I do
not check my nest
boxes as often as
most, I cannot say
exactly how long
incubation really
is. For
me, it has been
between 28 and 35
days, after the
first egg laid.
African
Greys, to me, are
some of the most
reliable parents
there are.
Greys sit
their eggs so tight
that some
first-timers, or
nests with
inappropriate
bedding, will result
in smushed babies. In
my ignorance of
breeding and
determination not to
EVER artificially
incubate, I have
learned African
birds seem to give
their eggs a cooling
down period just
prior to hatching.
A day or two
before hatching,
some hens almost
seem to abandon
their eggs.
Eggs can be
found that are ice
cold to the touch,
and still hatch a
few days later. I
do believe in large
water bowls for the
hen to soak in if
the eggs are too dry.
Even in
Florida I have seen
hens bathe and go
immediately back to
the nest.
I know of
many aviculturists
who have watering
tubes and bottles
and say this is not
necessary for their
situation.
I really
don’t know, but it
works for me, so I
use big water bowls.
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