FEATURE
in with the adult’s duet. Interestingly the parents had gone very quiet for a few weeks before they laid, leading me to believe that they had gone out of breeding condition. This behaviour was also noted by Mr D. England, (Avicultural Society Magazine Vol. 79, page 194), who first bred them in 1973. On the 9th August the parents were seen mating, and on the 11th they had one egg. Again four eggs were laid but one was removed at 11 days as it was clear and had a crack in it, another egg disappeared. On the morning of 26th August it was noted that the cock was showing a little aggression towards the young hens and he was reluctant to allow the chicks into the shelter. As the weather forecast was bad for that night the decision was taken to remove the chicks. It was noted at this time that the black throat patch was already beginning to moult through red and had completely gone in another week. On the 28th August the remaining two eggs were thrown out of the box, but had one egg by the 2nd September. Three more made the clutch up to the usual four, three of which hatched and were reared, two cocks and a hen. Theses fledged on the 14th, 15th and 16th September and just five days later the hen started another clutch of four. These proved infertile however, the hen showing no more signs of breeding for that year.
Brief Diary • 2 eggs • eggs thrown out • 4eggs • all eggs removed to incubator • 1 egg (three more over the next three days)
• first chick hatched (three more • over the next three days)
• first chick fledged at 26 days old • remaining chicks fledge • 1 egg (three more over the next three days)
• last two eggs thrown out • 1 egg (three more over next three days)
• 2 chicks hatched third chick hatched • first chick fledged (remaining two over next two days)
• first of four eggs, all infertile
The final result for the year was 22 eggs laid, 7 hatched and reared by parents,1 hatched in incubator but did not survive. I still have Red and Yellow barbets, and currently own three pairs including a cock from the above breeding. He has produced second generation chicks in 2010 and I aim to breed third generation this year with luck.
BIRD SCENE 9
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