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Mary,

The two primary goals of all life forms are to survive and to reproduce. These are very strong urges. When birds do not reproduce, we must ask two important questions.

1. Are the birds capable of reproduction?

2. What do the birds feel is threatening their survival?

Concerning the Hyacinths, they are certainly old enough to reproduce. However, they may not be a true pair. Since they have been together for a long time, it might be worthwhile to have them resexed. If these are wild caught birds they may not be comfortable enough in their environment to start breeding. Also, sexually mature Hyacinths may copulate when people approach. This is not an indication that they are ready to reproduce. I feel it is a territorial display. My own Hyacinths are now so comfortable with me, that they no longer behave this way.

Your Blue and Golds likely have not adjusted to their new home. It is also possible that they found a great deal of comfort in having you around. They knew you would provide for all their needs and the needs of their chicks. They may not be convinced that they will receive all the food and water that they would require to raise babies in their new home. Once they are comfortable they will begin to produce again.

I once sold a pair of African Greys to a dear friend and went through pretty much the same scenario. I was so relieved when the birds began breeding. They bred well for a while then production stopped. My friend realized that the birds began breeding when he blocked a window. They stopped breeding when he unblocked the window. All the excitement that went on outside that window was just too much for the shy pair of Greys to handle.

One more point, we can feed the best diet possible to our birds, yet it is pointless if they won't eat it! We must make sure that the birds do not get too much of their favorite foods, so that they will eat the other foods and consume a balanced diet. Once they are feeding babies they should get all the food they want.