How Old To Breed?

[Guest mattpaulmps]

i know budgies have to be about a year old or more but ive got a little blue male there that is 8 months old,very blue above the beak, and always flirting with young females. can males breed earler than females, could i maybe pair him with an older female?

 

any help would be great thanks matt

[Rainbow 0]

A male at 8 months would be able to breed, but one problem with breeding them that early is that they may not be emotionally mature enough. The likelihood of him not properly feeding the hen, not fertilizing the eggs, or losing interest in the chicks is higher with an immature bird. But if you have him with a female, he will practice the flirting/mating rituals, and this is normal.

[*Nerwen* 0]

Alot of breeder believe 10 months is an okay age to start a male but as rainbow stated there can be issues with the age and emotionally state of the bird.

[Guest mattpaulmps]

Alot of breeder believe 10 months is an okay age to start a male but as rainbow stated there can be issues with the age and emotionally state of the bird.

thanks for the help maybe ill leave him be in the avery for a while then.

[*Nerwen* 0]

great to hear It's not going to hurt him to get a bit more pratice in

[Boris' Slave 0]

My Junior Boss bred younger than he should, short of putting him in a cage by himself there was nothing I could do to stop him. The hen that bred with him was about 3 and one of my best breeders - child stealer!

 

Way back when I was younger and inexperience I had a 3 month old hen who bred, needless to say she died not long after the single baby fledged. I have always been vigilant about not letting them breeding at a young age.

[Daz 0]

I did a issue in the FAQ on this subject....No it was Bea

 

FAQ Section

 

Breeding Age & Behaviours

Budgerigar's are one of the fastest sexually maturing avian species. Budgerigar cocks reach full sexual maturity at approximately 60 days with a hen maturing soon after. They will display all of the secondary sexual characteristics by the time they are through their first moult at three months. They will also pair bond and display all of the sexual breeding behaviours of a physically and sexually mature adult. The problem is, they are still physically immature and all of their nutritional resources need to be directed toward building bone, muscle, etc. Full physical maturity usually takes 10 to 16 months longer than sexual maturity.

Some breeders will mate 5 to 7 month old hens, especially if they are buff feathered, as they feel they produce better at this age. When doing so it is advisable to limit the pair to one round and foster the eggs, then wait another 5 to 6 months before using her again, this time taking two rounds of eggs and letting her raise one. Normally, hens are not bred with until 10 to 12 months of age.

 

By James Bratt

[hath 0]

my opinion 10 months is still young 12 months and no younger

[Daz 0]

my opinion 10 months is still young 12 months and no younger

 

I agree with Hath 12 months should be the youngest to breed. You can, in Brisbane, buy 12 month old birds for breeding. But remember to quarentine them for at least 30 days before introducing them to the rest of your flock.

Edited November 26, 2005 by daz