While many have their own  methods of breeding , I like to keep them as pairs throughout the year so they bond and get tolerant of each others ways with no harmful fighting or bickering and learn to respect one another. Others seperate males and condition them until they are bouncing off the walls singing and courting then introduce them to the females ,  but this ends up in turbulant chasing and sometimes heavy plucking and even death caused by stress! This method males have to be seperated once females lay eggs as they do not settle down for parental duties but want to constantly court and pester the female causing her to abandon eggs and young at times. Females usually  build a beautiful nest and lay 4-6 whitish eggs. They are incubated for 12-14 days depending when hen sits tightly and when hatch are fed primarily  by the female. At around 10 days or so the male will start to feed the female on the nest and the youngsters. Young Hoodeds leave the nest at around 18-20 days of age and are self supporting at around 30-35 days of age. I like to use Canary double breeder cages so you can seperate them on one side and on other side the  parents can start a new nest and can still feed  the youngsters if they still beg for food  through the wire divider..