Birds who are strongly attracted to each other will usually mate, but if they don't find each other too attractive they might mate because they're hormonal and no one better is available, or they might not mate at all. It depends on the individual birds.

There was a new egg this afternoon. The last one before this was January 9th.

She was backed up in the corner, and when I went in to move her away and put something there she started swaying back and forth and hissing. It could be that this was when she was laying the egg.

The egg looked fine. However, later in the afternoon I thought she looked a bit peaked. She seems okay now, though.

It's normal for hens to feel tired for a while after they've laid an egg.

That's good to know Carolyn.
I don't blame her for being tired.
I never did get around to trying constant light.
I don't know whether I mentioned this before, but I have been trying to set up some wireless headphones for watching TV after I put he birds to bed. It's taken a bit of time to figure out something that will work as my TV has no audio output jack. However, I believe I almost have that sorted out, with a transmitter that plugs into the TV's optical output and converts it to bluetooth. I had to order this from a company in Norway LOL. If this improves the situation, I think it will be very interesting. This message kind of has a record of when the eggs are now happening.

That is so interesting that Emma and Silver don't mate! I would love to have a male to hear the singing and so forth but I think my little hussy would be right on him. I don't want to breed either.

Another egg laid this afternoon. This evening, Emma is on the bottom of the cage, all puffed up and keeping it warm. Poor girl! She's going to be disappointed again.

should you let her breed once, Dianne? It seems to be important to her. I think their personality improve when they become parents. Sorry if suggestion is bad. best of luck!

If she and Silver were mating, I might let them raise a couple of chicks. I'd love to watch the whole thing, although it does stressful.

Silver does sing to her. He also makes heartwings and makes this loud chirp repeatedly at her. I can't imaging that she finds that particular noise attractive. However, things have not progressed to any actual mating. Silver is about a year old. Emma is about 14 months old.

I think it would be a great experience to raise a couple of chicks. On the other hand, it sounds pretty stressful.

I gave her a bowl and put her egg in it. She looks so cute all fluffed up on the egg.

They're both pretty young still so it's good that they're not jumping directly into parenthood. Older birds tend to make better parents than very young ones, and I suspect that it's because their breeding instincts are better developed and they have the emotional maturity to do the job right. Basically the same reason that human adults tend to make better parents than teenagers.

Well, if they raise children once, I think its going to be not very easy to prevent other clutches in the future, just my opinion....