Hi All,

 

I am ready to try and breed my pair of budgies that are just over a year old.

They have been together in the same cage for about 6 months now without a breeding box.

I am waiting on a new cage and once I get this I plan to put the pair into this cage with a breeding box.

My questions are:

 

- Should I separate the pair now before the new cage comes or can I just put them in together at the same time?

- What other things should I have in this new cage to encourage breeding?

 

The birds have gotten along okay since day 1.

 

What are my chances?

 

Thanks.

Preparation starts now well before the new cage and nesting box. Time to be sure they are on a very good diet including a variety of vegies.....well in advance of needing to make and raise babies. A calcium supplement also would be good...a liquid calcium supplement in their water. Have they been wormed lately ? If not, worm them.

When the new cage comes into play, make sure its both large enough for the couple and larger enough for an additional 5 or 6 budgies as the fledged babies will need room to learn to fly once fledged. A wide cage rather than a tall cage. Sturdy thick perches ( for stability during mating ) and an iodine, and a calcium/charcoal bell. Good quality seed, like BUDGIE BREEDER.

Best to fit the nesting box to the exterior of the cage and just raise one of the hatch doors at the nesting box hole. Nestboxes are best set higher up rather than floor level. Nestbox must have a concave in the bottom, preferably one you can remove to clean. Nesting material such as wood shavings.

If I have forgotten anything I will add. Best of luck.

 

Cheers Karen

 

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....showtopic=13182

 

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....showtopic=13358

thankyou.

Can you give me some more information on food products and worming products.

 

I only feed the basic bird seed and they have never been wormed.

You can get a worming syrup that goes in their water for approximately 3-5 days. Follow the directions on the bottle.

Re bird seed, breeding birds must get the best of everything to be able to produce healthy babies....if not on vegies, you must get them used to eating vegies....pak choy, bok choy, grated carrot, broccoli, sweetcorn and a few other types.

Any hen about to lay eggs must have good calcium levels, so at this point you will need some calcivet in their water.

You would need to get a premium budgie mix like budgie breeder mix and offer some extras like sunflower in smaller quantities.

Do you feed your birds soft foods like home made eggfood ? If not, now is the time to start.

 

Cheers Kaz

Edited April 13, 200718 yr by Kaz

Kaz,

 

In relation to the vegies, do they have to be cooked or just raw.

another question.

Should I separate the pair now before I move them into the new cage?

Or can I just leave them together as they have been for the past 6 months?

Will absence make the heart grow fonder???

Kaz,

 

In relation to the vegies, do they have to be cooked or just raw.

 

The best nutrients are in raw vegies, fine sliced, grated and easy to eat servings.

I have my new cage. Should I just put the hen in there for now? if so, for how long before I introduce the cock?

Remember, they have been together for the past 6 months in a small cage.

 

 

another question.

Should I separate the pair now before I move them into the new cage?

Or can I just leave them together as they have been for the past 6 months?

Will absence make the heart grow fonder???

 

Also,

How should I prepare the worming formula with the water.

How much water should I give my birds. they do not drink much.

I have my new cage. Should I just put the hen in there for now? if so, for how long before I introduce the cock?

Remember, they have been together for the past 6 months in a small cage.

I would have no trouble putting both of them in the cage at the same time

 

 

another question.

Should I separate the pair now before I move them into the new cage?important only if you feel the hen may "bonk" another budgie before going into a breeder cage thereby confusing the perception of parentage

Or can I just leave them together as they have been for the past 6 months? Yes...leave them together. No real reason to make them pine for each other

Will absence make the heart grow fonder??? It's more about them seeing the new cage with the nesting box that puts a glint in their eye

 

Also,

How should I prepare the worming formula with the water.

How much water should I give my birds. they do not drink much. Follow the dosage on the bottle....and while they are on it, no vegies or they wont drink the water

Edited April 4, 200718 yr by Kaz

I have a few more questions.

I dont have any wood shavings.

Would it be okay to put some sand or mulch from the garden in the nest box instead?

Also, its been 2 weeks now and no eggs in sight, am I being silly?

My cage is on wheels and I move it in and out of the garage daily, (morning and night) would this movement disturb the breeding process?

The birds do not fuss when being moved, it is only a few metres.

I have a few more questions.

I dont have any wood shavings.

Would it be okay to put some sand or mulch from the garden in the nest box instead? No, the wrong thing to use, Most petshops carry nesting materials and it is cheap

Also, its been 2 weeks now and no eggs in sight, am I being silly? just be patient. are they mating ?

My cage is on wheels and I move it in and out of the garage daily, (morning and night) would this movement disturb the breeding process? it may do

The birds do not fuss when being moved, it is only a few metres.

Try covering the cage on 2 sides ( the side the nestbox is on ) and see if it makes a difference. Also make the nesting box hole face away from where you look into the cage. They like a private nestbox hole

Edited April 13, 200718 yr by Kaz

Are the birds in breeding condition? i.e. Does the make have a deep blue or deep purple cere (the coloured part above the nose) and does the female have a chocolate brown coloured cere?

 

 

Feathers.