I have a blue quaker female that is now 10 months old and a green male quaker that is 7 months old. The female is getting very amorous? is this normal at this age. Surely she is not ready for breeding? I thought this only happened at about 2 years of age. If anyone can shed some light I would be much appreciated. I know if you cut down on their protein it lessons the "drive" but she doesn't have too much protein.

Don't let them breed if you don't want them to! Yes, quakers can breed as young as a year, but it's definitely not recommended. Usually QPs begin showing signs of sexual maturity around a year to a year and a half. She's pretty close. But it's very dangerous to let them breed this young. The male is too young to be showing many signs anyway. It's best to wait until a Qp is at least two years old. And if you do let them breed, unless you have a split to blue male, you will not get visual blue babies. You'll get green babies that are genetically split to blue and that only matters if you plan on parent raising them as breeders. Otherwise, they are just green quakers.

If you want to stop the "breeding" behavior, try to keep them separate and don't encourage any "loving" behavior between them.

Hope this helps!!!

I have a blue split to green and a green split to blue. I keep them in seperate cages but they come out and spend time on a stand together and that is when my female gets amorous. They just love each others company so it is hard to keep them apart. Oh gosh. If they do breed will the babies be ok and will the parents be ok? That is my concern. They are both hand reared and very tame.

Well, with Quakers, to get a good handtamed baby, you have to handfeed it. So unless you have plans of handfeeding babies three times a day for a month or so, then I suggest you keep them apart...lol

You really don't want to have Quaker babies. They are a whole other story. Now, if you are really, truly interested in breeding, then start doing your research. But if you allow them to breed, you run a very high risk of them becoming breeder birds and not pets. Meaning your lovable, cuddley Quakers are no more.

Breeding is hard, expensive and can be heartbreaking. Again, if you have no interest in it, or don't want to learn how to do it properly, then keep them apart while your hen is feeling hormonal.

Blue split to green? I don't think that's possible with resessive/dominant genes. The green is the dominate gene, so if your blue was split to green, she'd just be green. If you pair up a blue and a split (visual green), you will get half blue babies and half visually green (split to blue) babies. A good site to read about genetics is: www.rarequaker.com. Scroll down on the main page and click on the "cool" cartoon pic to read all about them.

I totally agree with Carrie-Anne, a pet bird is not a breeder bird. You will gain breeders, but you will lose pets. Breeding is a lot of work, time, and money. Definitely research it before you do anything!!! If you later decide you really want to get into breeding, buy a pair (proven or young) from someone else. Those birds will be parent-raised and make much better breeders.

Good luck!

You can also start cutting back day light hours so they get no more than 12 hours daylight. Hens don't usually produce an egg unless they have approx. 14 hours of daylight.

One of the problems with allowing a young quaker hen Or I should say encouraging a young quaker hen to lay is that her body isn't ready yet. Her bone structure isn't mature enough and that can cause egg binding. Egg binding can be fatal. Also it depletes their calcium levels and it is then taken from their bones and weakens them and leaves them open for fractures and other problems.

Oh boy. How do I keep them apart? they are so good together. If I let them together but just make sure they don't get too amorous? I know the blue hen I have had one green parent and one blue and same with the green **** I have. I have bred birds before and hand raised them. I have done both syringe and spoon feeding but if they do breed I would find someone that does not work to hand raise the babies (someone that knows how-i do have a breeder contact). No, I am not quite ready for that to happen now or in the next year. So if I make sure they don't breed how do I stop her from becoming egg bound? I have them both on pellets and they get vege's etc.

I don't want to loose them as pets either. They are my babies.

If I only allow them 12 hours of daylight and watch them VERY closely while they are out of their cages this would help I guess. The are housed seperately. I feel bad taking only one out at a time. Gosh I am a sook!

If you don't want babies, if your hen lays an egg, either shake it HARD or blow it out and give it back to her to stop her laying. If they think they have an egg or two to take care of, they'll usually stop laying. They'll soon lose interest in the egg when it doesn't hatch. Make sure to get her some extra calcium if she lays, either calcium to sprinkle on her food, or crushed egg shells in with their pellets or cooked into some birdie bread.

Do not cage them together, but if they can play together and still keep you in the loop, I don't see why not. If they get too lovey dovey, you separate them in their cages for a bit until they stop doing it. Then they can come out again.

My sun and Quaker are thinking they are all in love with each other (both male ) and being a little bitey, but its just hormones ... heck, they'll get lovey with a stuffed animal or toy ... I just separate them for a little while and then let em play again.

Thank you all that makes me feel a lot better. I would hate to have to change their routine or only take one out at a time. Breaks my heart. I will go today and see if I can find some calcium to sprinkle on her food. Will it do any harm using it in the meantime or do you only use it after they lay eggs?