Hello all, I know I haven't been on for a while, been busy. But anyways, I know for sure this time Casper is back in breeding season I have decided to breed her with Loverboy instead of Jasper. Yesterday she started to check out the nesting box, she kept putting her head in it, she hasn't gone completely in it yet, but I assume she will in time. Whenever Loverboy goes near the box, she chases him away, not sure if this is natural or not at this point.

But I do have one question, Casper is still kinda skiddish of me, when she lays the eggs and so that I can number them as she lays them and to be able to check on them, whenever I open the lid of the box or go near the cage she moves away from the box, if she leaves the nest will she go back to it? I don't want her to abandon the eggs. Or should I just leave everything alone? I know if the eggs are fertile I will have to check on the chicks each day to make sure they are okay, but I don't want her to abandon them.

Any advice here will be very helpful.

I have mother budgies like that. Even the most paranoid ones dont abandon their eggs or nest for my interference. Some scream and screech at me reaching in to look and check on things. Mostly they dont leave they stay in the box while I do. Some try and bite me but they stay. Thats the paranoid ones or first time Mums anyway. Others get used to it and leave while you check things out and then come back after a feed. You could always offer a piece of millet as you check things out and then they will see it as a good thing. I often give my Mum budgies a sprig of millet in the nesting box, as some of them dont leave there very much. I dont do much with the eggs ( number them or candle ) ....I prefer surprises

Yeah they learn quicky that your not going to steal the eggs completely. I haven't heard of any abandoning nest becuase of what the owners do. A tap on the box warns the hen you are coming and so will leave completly others just shift of the eggs from the niose. Tootie isn't tame at all to me but willing put up with me numbering each egg, candling each egg on day 5 and then handling the babies. A bit of noise at the intruder and a few nips but she happily sat back on them all when I returned eggs/babies.

Thanks for the info, Yesterday I noticed that one of them has been inside the box, because on Saturday when I looked inside the box, I noticed all the nesting was pished to one side, and last night it was all spread out, and Casper was again sticking her head inside the hole. And then they were on the perch preening each other. So I am hoping mother nature will take it's course. Will keep all posted.

sounds like she has gotten in and started to make house

I hope so, now all they are doing is stitting on the perch, not doing anything, just looking at each other, no kissing, no preening, nothing. Guess it will take time, I am not even sure if they even mated yet.

Well, Casper is housekeeping, she has thrown some of the nesting out of the box, and they are now starting to show more affection towards one another, so I am hoping that within the next week or 2 they will mate, will keep ya posted.