Perry, I think that breeding behaviour and success has a lot to do with environment. As you know, I have never brumated my Chucks, and note that the first pair I ever did breed, took a couple of years to acclimate to each other and to diet and seasons, etc. All of a sudden, they started mating regularly and produced every year. Chucks don't like changes in their cage furniture, and often take some warming up to a new perfectly good food source, which the others, who have been used to that food for a long time are chowing down on with great gusto. I keep my common Chucks separated, male from female, so they can see each other and "flirt" from a neighboring cage. I set them down together in an outdoor cage and the males dive on the females, Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall. Sometimes they even try copulating in my hands on the way out to the back yard!

Don't know what else to tell you, but too many of my friends have death and misery tales after brumation. Good luck with your new guys, and...post those pics!!!

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