Well this is the first I have mentioned this as I wanted to see how it went first. I recently moved my main bonded pair that were looking like breeding from the aviary into a large bird cage which I have installed a nest box in. It's not a breeder box just a big square bird cage but they seem quite happy in there, it is in a quiet corner of the house which is much warmer than the aviary. So far we have 4 eggs, the first layed on the 20th and then one every second day as expected, probably another tomorrow if we are lucky.

 

In the past I haven't really kept track of when eggs were laid just noted when we had baby noises in boxes.

 

So just wanting to check a few things. Incubation is 18 days is that right? So I guess about another week and a half until we should see our first baby all going well.

 

What supplements should I be supplying in the cage? In the aviary they had a mineral block which I often see all the birds chewing on and I also add multivites to their water. They have these same two things supplied in the breeding cage.

 

At what point do I need to start giving things like soaked seed and chicken crumble? These sorts of things I pretty much used to just freefeed in the aviary as I never new if birds were about to breed, etc.

Well this is the first I have mentioned this as I wanted to see how it went first. I recently moved my main bonded pair that were looking like breeding from the aviary into a large bird cage which I have installed a nest box in. It's not a breeder box just a big square bird cage but they seem quite happy in there, it is in a quiet corner of the house which is much warmer than the aviary. So far we have 4 eggs, the first layed on the 20th and then one every second day as expected, probably another tomorrow if we are lucky.

 

In the past I haven't really kept track of when eggs were laid just noted when we had baby noises in boxes.

 

So just wanting to check a few things. Incubation is 18 days is that right? So I guess about another week and a half until we should see our first baby all going well.

 

What supplements should I be supplying in the cage? In the aviary they had a mineral block which I often see all the birds chewing on and I also add multivites to their water. They have these same two things supplied in the breeding cage.

 

At what point do I need to start giving things like soaked seed and chicken crumble? These sorts of things I pretty much used to just freefeed in the aviary as I never new if birds were about to breed, etc.

A nestbox ouside the cage is usually better so it allows them room inside for flying across the cage for displays of mating behaviour and gives them more space. A nestbox outside the cage makes it easier for you to be checking the nestbox as well...inside makes it near impossible and checking the nestbox once chicks arrive should be a twice daily thing.

Incubation is 18 to 21 days from the time the hen decides to incubate or sit pretty much constantly on the eggs, and not from the time she laid the first egg.

Good diet and supplements should be a constant thing ...the best always and not just for breeding. Liquid calcium is a good additive before egglaying. Soft food is good for when they are feeding chicks but is and should be a part of normal diets for a bird along with many other things.

Have you candled any of the eggs to see if they are fertile yet ?

As Kaz says if they aren't used to eating softfood as part of their diet, you wont get the full benefit from it as always when you introduce new foods it takes some time before they are eating it enough to do good. Also it builds up the parents system making them better parents.

Edited April 27, 200817 yr by Norm

The cage is very large so they have plenty of space and it is actually arched in the centre which means I am able to check the eggs a couple of times a day at the moment very easily using the sliding door on the box.

 

The standard food they get in the aviary is: budgie seed(there is also large bird seed as it is a community aviary), fruit and vegies, soaked lentils, a mix I make up of grated carrot, apple and celery mixed with egg and biscuit and soaked seed, multivite in their water and the mineral/calcium stones. The chicken crumble is the latest thing I have bought to try.

 

I haven't candled any eggs yet, the info I said found to do it at 11 days and we are now on day 8 for the oldest. She sat her bum solidly on them the day the first was laid and has hardly even come out to eat. I have added a millet spray to the box last night to give her a bit that she can nibble while sitting.

Diet sounds good. Candling can be done at 5 days :sad:

Do you have pictures of this cage?

By the sounds of it, where you mention the arch, it's probably not appropriate for breeding?

The cage is about the size of a breeding box plus the width of a nest box. I'll post a photo soon.Here it is:and a side shotI candled the eggs, atleast three look to be fertile(lots of veins running all over), one clear at this stage but we'll see......How long does it take before you start seeing more than just veins?

Edited April 28, 200817 yr by melbournebudgies

You will find it very difficult to access that nesting box for what you have to do once chicks arrive. Would have been better outside with a hole cut through the cage to the nestbox hole. Once you end up with a cage full of fledged youngsters, there wonmt be a lot of space. But you r main issue is not enough ready access to the nestbox without disturbing the eggs and or chicks. You could still change it by cutting ahole in the cage and just moving the nestbox backward in the same position but outside the cage. After just block the hole with a piece of wood and screws.

 

 

Care of Baby Budgies in the Nestbox

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...&artlang=en

Edited April 28, 200817 yr by KAZ

I can slide the door almost all the way to the top, the front of the cage has a full size door as well as doors on each side which makes it quite easy to get into. I easily put my hand in just now and gently took the eggs out one by one for candling.

 

I'd rather not cut this cage as it is actually my best cage. Another option though is that if it is okay to move it slightly lower I can fit the perch and the hole onto the side door so that the box sits outside the cage. She is a VERY devoted mother so I doubt this would upset things too much.