hi everyone im new on this forum, i have 2 hens and 2 male budgies and have a problem with breeding. one of the hens laid her first clutch of eggs and within 24 hours all eggs were cracked by one of the males. i only have 1 breeding box do i need more? or is this a territorial behavior?

You should have at least four boxes. How big is your aviary?

 

It is more likely the other hen that broke them unless you actually saw the cock do it. I suggest you have a read of the FAQS pages as there are some good bits on breeding

Edited September 9, 200816 yr by **Liv**
typo

As MB, said in our FAQ is excellent informaiton about breeding. I suggest if you have the ability is to separate them, give each pair their own space with no interference from any other budgie and give them their own box. That way you can ensure there are no fights over the nesting box. This is called closed breeding but if you have to do open breeding yes as MB said you need more nesting boxes at different levels.

 

Please post a picture of your set up so we can be of more assistance.

hi melbournebudgies and elly, thanks for your help i will try your advice and see how i go. the aviary dimensions are 2metres high 1.5 metres wide and 500 mm deep

That is a great size for two pairs. If they get along well with each other normally then hopefully extra boxes may solve the problem. Put them all at the same height and as far fromeach other as possble in order to discourage competitoin for boxes.

50cm Deep isn't that Big .....

 

I did colony breeding in an small aviary which is 2m High by 1.8 wide By 1.2 deep and still had fighting issues, due to them not having enough " OWN SPACE" - So that could play a part too

( My birds have all gown up together and with out nest boxes they all get along like a house on fire )

 

But you do need at least 2 nest boxes per hen. And they need to be all at the same height and a good distance apart from each other ....

 

I found that my adding thing long timber the same height as the nest boxes to the sides of the boxes game them more PERSONAL space and stop the fighting as they couldn't see each other Make sure that the timber is the same on all the boxes - I will try to post a photo some time today or tomorrow

 

Hope it all works out for you

I missed the 50cm deep, I was thinking it was 1.5 X 2m in width. Do be careful in that size. You might be better off taking one of the pairs out and giving each pair their own space.

You have been given great advice already so i thought i would stop by and say WELCOME