I raised a Blue and Gold Hen about 13 years ago, and she has been a great family member. Last year we bought her a mate who had also been raised in captivity, neither of these birds had been with one of their own kind. After a careful introduction, they became quite happy with each other. They began to act as mate and I secured a 55 gallon steel drum (sideways) with a hole in the side of it, about 7 feet up the trunk of a pine tree. Then built a large perching network out of PVC pipe from the ground up to near the hole. Their food and water dishes were installed on this PVC contraption.
Our bird had always been allowed outside except during the coldest months, and the new bird was given this freedom too. Neither bird has their wings clipped at all. (We live against the forest).
The first two clutches of a pair of eggs each, were crushed by the hen due to soft shells. I increased the calcium in her diet and that resolved the problem. She has laid 5 clutches (10 eggs total) this year and not one of them has developed at all. They are infertile.
I have never seen the male actually mate with her and am wondering if he knows what to do ?? She sits well and he feeds her on the nest. She rarely flies and he is the same. I wish they got more exercise, but they seem quite content to just sit there and when he does go somewhere, he almost always walks. I do find him in the Peach trees of high up in an Oak tree, or occasionally on top of the house, but he usually walks. We have a lot of other animals and birds, but these two are becoming a real disappointment.
Should I get rid of him (she would REALLY miss him) and find her a new mate, or just let them try again next year??
Steven - North Carolina
