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Since their wildcaught and imports shut down back in 1992 that makes them at least 16 years old if they were the last to be imported, chances are they are much older than that and I would guess , since they were prolific before , that they might be getting beyond their productive years, however, since repairing them doesn't seem to be an option for you I would block up the nestbox, that would encourage them to chew back into it, block it with some pine, something easy to chew through, check to make sure their perches are stable and strong for copulating, also playing a recording of other african greys might stimulate them, you didn't mention their diet, soft foods can encourage them to breed as well, and you might want to have a vet check done to make sure they aren't hiding any disease or health issues, having them scoped by a vet so he can check their reproductive organs would be helpful too, these are all suggestions and none are a guarantee that they will produce for you. Good luck.

After the third failed clutch of the year, you have a diminished chance that the next eggs will have all the necessary nutrients. It would probably be best to remove the nest and allow the birds to regain their health, till next year. Then, I still have to question if you really have the original pairs that you are describing ! Was that 5 clutches across 2 years, or one year ?

Then, I still have to question if you really have the original pairs that you are describing ! Was that 5 clutches across 2 years, or one year ?

I don't understand why you would question if it is the original pair I was describing. It's the only pair of Timnehs I have. And YES, I really have them. Anyway, that is 5 clutches since last May (2007). Supplementing with calcium and cuttlebone to help prevent a deficiency. I think I'll take your advice and just remove the box altogether.... I had considered it a few times and procrastinated. When I would got around to it (and my husband was home to help), surprise...she would have eggs again.

And YES, I really have them. Anyway, that is 5 clutches since last May (2007).

I agree that you should take off the nest box immediately. Even though you are supplementing their diet, five clutches in less than one year is way too much for the female. They shouldn't be having more than two clutches a year.

My question was about the truthfulness of the 2 previous owners, since you are at least the 3d owner. The most most frequent problem in unsuccessful breeding is the statement that the current owner "has a proven pair that has previously raised babies successfully for the previous owner". I myself have purchased "proven pairs" that turned out to be 2 females, or 2 males, or 2 unsexed birds that were put together recently.
The claims about "proven pairs" is about as common as:
The check is in the mail, and
Of course I love you.

My question was about the truthfulness of the 2 previous owners, since you are at least the 3d owner

I know there are a lot of people who get "taken" by less then honest sellers. That isn't the case with this pair. As I mentioned before, I got them from a good friend of mine whom I trust. She got them from a good friend of her's that she trusts. She did have them scoped to make sure they were in good condition to breed and they were.

Got my husband to help me remove the box tonight. Of course both are growling loudly when I have to go in and feed since they no longer have any place to hide.....

macaw75 wrote:Just thought of something regarding their age. They started banding imports sometime in the early to mid-70's. Since they do have bands, they would have to be under 35-36 yrs. old.

Not nessesarily, who's to say how old they were when they were captured and imported, all I'm saying is age can be a factor and with imported birds all you can really know about their age is when they were captured, I am referring to adult birds, I am aware some young birds were imported as well. You may find repairing them might be an option you'll have to cinsider in the future.

I saw a TV show once that showed how the native people caught African Greys. They put something on the tree branches, and when the flock would land in a tree, the birds' feet were stuck to the branches, and they couldn't fly away. I wouldn't doubt that they also steal babies from the nest.

I read a book a while back about an ornithologist and her husband that took in an older Red Lored Amazon named Tiki. She lived and studied in South America for a while. She told of some ways the native people captured parrots, and one was pretty gruesome. It was a pretty interesting read.

Just in case anyone is interested...

The book I mentioned in my prior post is The Parrot Who Owns Me by Joanna Burger. For anyone who loves birds, parrots in particular, it's a good read.

I was wrong about the birds' name. It is Tiko, not Tiki. I enjoyed the book and will probably read it again. The part about the Nanday Conure broke my heart. I don't want to spoil the story, but I sympathized with the poor little bird not understanding what happened to Joanna.

I too have seen a few shows on the capture the birds in the wilds of So. America. They showed the natives climbing up a tree, reaching in and just grabbing what ever part of the baby they could and then toss them in a bucket. This was during the day so the camera got a good shot of it. I can't remember if they did it when the parent's were away foraging for food or not. They were then hand fed some mixture they made up. I think i was a gruel of mashed corn & rice. Can't really remember exactly. They were kept in small wire cages and so may were packed in that they could barely move. It showed a small building that had a lot of cages stacked against the wall, all full to the brim with young birds. And if one died or aspirated, they just pulled ot out & tossed it. Once they feathered out and were forced weaned (if that), they were sold to a broker who then shipped them off to other country's buyers or smuggled them into our country. It was all very heartbreaking to see how they did it and that it's still done......