We have our birds in an aviary. There are two females and two males.

 

We put two nesting boxes in the aviary, added a couple of tonic bells, added vitamins to their seed, put in some egg and biscuit mix and waited.

 

One female has become mean, she chews everything to bits and fights with the male budgies. She always makes sure she has the highest perch.

 

They all have bright ceres and seem quite happy,healthy and noisey. But no-one is interested in the nesting boxes and no-one is doing the deed.

 

Is it the Melbourne weather? The weather has been even more unpredictable than usual for Melbourne.

 

 

 

 

:hap: :hap: :hap:

Edited October 11, 200618 yr by esta

HI Esta,

A few things to check through to help you here.

Are the birds old enough ?

Are the nesting boxes far enough apart to stop territorial disputes ? Around 2 ft apart helps.

Are they both set high up ?.... as they seem to like them high.

Do the nesting boxes have secluded entry holes ? (i.e. they dont like the entry in a busy or well lit area usually).

You usually need twice as many nesting boxes as pairs of birds, so they get choice.

Are your "pairs of birds" already bonded ? Sometimes you will need to separate them to a cage together till they bond. Or if you prefer to breed them in a separate breeder cabinet.

Some birds wont breed in an aviary or "colony breeding". On the other hand some birds wont breed in a breeder cabinet either. ( I do both ways...colony and breeder cabinet).

Check that you have some sturdy "budgie bonking" perches for successful matings. A wonky unstable perch wont help with matings.

What is their light conditions like ? They arent much interested when there is not much light in the aviary.

The sound of rain helps them "get frisky" as it tells them ...."the drought is over and its time to breed again "

Is there any other types of birds in the same aviary that may make them feel threatened if they decide to breed.....i.e. a bigger type of bird...cockatiel or parrot etc.

Check you havent got mice in the aviary as they will stop a hen using a nesting box or staying in one.

Anything more....happy to help. Cheers karen

Thanks Bubbles, You have given me a few things to think about.

 

The breeding boxes might be the problem. I will try and arrange them further apart.

 

If the male is feeding the female, does that mean they are bonded.?

My daughter said they were french kissing! (Laughing out loud)

Yes if the male is feeding the female they have bonded I find that breeding them in separate cages helps that’s a cage with a breeding box attached pet barn sell them for about $40.00

This way you know who’s screwing who

Its best if the birds are over 2 years of age you get better and bigger babies this way

Well good luck and I hope this has helped you

:beer:

I was checking out the breeding boxes and I found earwigs inside.

So I have moved them away from any solid surfaces and attached them with cable ties to the wire. The only solid surface close to the boxes now are perches. Hopefully this will stop the earwigs.

 

I am reluctant to use any kind of aerosol bug spray near the birds.

 

As soon as I moved the boxes two pairs of budgies started arguing over one box in particular. I hope this is good news.

I was sitting outside enjoying the sunshine and I caught them at it.

 

HOOORRay for Mr and Mrs Wally our blue budgies!

I was checking out the breeding boxes and I found earwigs inside.

So I have moved them away from any solid surfaces and attached them with cable ties to the wire. The only solid surface close to the boxes now are perches. Hopefully this will stop the earwigs.

 

I am reluctant to use any kind of aerosol bug spray near the birds.

 

As soon as I moved the boxes two pairs of budgies started arguing over one box in particular. I hope this is good news.

 

 

I was sitting outside enjoying the sunshine and I caught them at it.

 

HOOORRay for Mr and Mrs Wally our blue budgies!

 

Congratulations. There is some insecticides that are okay for budgies. A.I.L. from Vetafarm is what I use.

I think I should change this post to "My budgies are nymphomaniacs"

 

My green female filled up on millet and has disapeared into a breeding box and hasn't emerged.

 

They must have been doing it when we weren't watching. Sneaky little budgies.

Just an update. No sign of anything yet. Waiting, Waiting, Waiting.....

you might have to wait upto and past the 25th before an egg appears.

Hello Nerwen

 

Up to and past the 25th? How far past the 25th?

 

I have seen the table of dates that tell you when an egg should hatch;

Is there a table of dates for budgie bonking?

Hello Nerwen

 

Up to and past the 25th? How far past the 25th?

 

I have seen the table of dates that tell you when an egg should hatch;

Is there a table of dates for budgie bonking?

 

It can take up to 10 days from mating for eggs to arrive. After the hen decides to sit and incubate it generally takes around 18 days for fertile eggs to hatch.

 

Try this link http://www.budgiebreeders.asn.au/breeding22.php

Cheers Karen

karen answered after mating for a experanced hen it take around 10 days for the frist egg, or a first time mum it can take around two weeks-two and half.

Good News !

 

We checked the nesting boxes today and found one egg.

Mr and Mrs Wally are the proud potential parents of their first egg.

very glad to hear that at last

Egg number 2 arrived today.

 

Thanks for the link Karen, that was very helpful.

Good luck with your clutch of eggs

My budgies seem to have stopped at two eggs. Every time the male approaches the female she runs back into the nesting box. (budgie birth control.)

Don't worry some new hens can miss a day or two. But a small clutch will be easier for the hen to manage first time around.

I think I was a bit premature with my last post Daz.

I peeked in the box this evening and saw four eggs. She must have laid two late this afternoon.

HI Esta,

A few things to check through to help you here.

Are the birds old enough ?

Are the nesting boxes far enough apart to stop territorial disputes ? Around 2 ft apart helps.

Are they both set high up ?.... as they seem to like them high.

Do the nesting boxes have secluded entry holes ? (i.e. they dont like the entry in a busy or well lit area usually).

You usually need twice as many nesting boxes as pairs of birds, so they get choice.

Are your "pairs of birds" already bonded ? Sometimes you will need to separate them to a cage together till they bond. Or if you prefer to breed them in a separate breeder cabinet.

Some birds wont breed in an aviary or "colony breeding". On the other hand some birds wont breed in a breeder cabinet either. ( I do both ways...colony and breeder cabinet).

Check that you have some sturdy "budgie bonking" perches for successful matings. A wonky unstable perch wont help with matings.

What is their light conditions like ? They arent much interested when there is not much light in the aviary.

The sound of rain helps them "get frisky" as it tells them ...."the drought is over and its time to breed again "

Is there any other types of birds in the same aviary that may make them feel threatened if they decide to breed.....i.e. a bigger type of bird...cockatiel or parrot etc.

Check you havent got mice in the aviary as they will stop a hen using a nesting box or staying in one.

Anything more....happy to help. Cheers karen

 

Fantastic advice Karen with some great hints.

 

Cheers

Paul

It was four eggs but now it is back to two!

Mr Wally decided to have a feed of two eggs. I removed him before he could eat the rest.

Mrs Wally is happily sitting on the eggs and popping out for a quick snack now and again.

 

My daughter said 'Nasty birdie, eating your babies.' He just sat there with a big yellow stain all over his beak and feathers.

 

At least I know the eggs were fertile as they did contain a yolk. Like a raw chook egg.

Just to let everyone know that Mrs Wally is doing very well as a single parent. She is sitting very patiently on two eggs.

 

Mr Wally has been sent to the batchelor pad after eating two of the eggs.

aw sorry to hear that Do you know if these two eggs are fertile or not?

I'm not sure if they are fertile Nerwen. The other two definately were, because there was a yolk.

 

The eggs seem to have a pinkish hue, and Mrs Wally is very happy to keep sitting.

 

I know now that I should have numbered them as they arrived, but at least I did write the dates down. I have an idea about when they should hatch.