Well Lemon has been in her breeding condition for about 5 or 6 weeks now, and she's destroyed almost everything wooden in the cage! I've replaced the swing twice now seems she chewed right through it, so we replaced that with a plastic swing, I replaced most of the toys with new ones, like wooden pinapples and shapes for her to destroy and a little spaceship thing that came with Confetti's cage when I had him in seperated from her for a month. She seems to love the sapce toy as its got a bowl like structure and seems to like sitting on it at night to sleep [maybe she thinks its some sort of nest?]

 

But this is getting crazy now, lol. Everything Confetti goes for and eats, or play with, she wants it, and pulls on his wings or makes him do a dive to the bottom of the cage [to get away from her!].

 

How long does the condition last for? Cause I am at the point of seperating them for a while cause I know Confetti isn't liking it. Poor guy needs a break.

You could try some native branches as perches, bark, cuttlebone, calcium bells etc to satisfy her destructive chewing behaviour at low cost. Also, vegetable peels from carrots, sweet potato, spinach, silverbeet, broccoli.

 

I have a cat that loves destroying anything paper or cardboard - so I just give him old newspaper and cardboard boxes and let him destroy to his heart's content. It saves the furniture!!!

You could try some native branches as perches, bark, cuttlebone, calcium bells etc to satisfy her destructive chewing behaviour at low cost. Also, vegetable peels from carrots, sweet potato, spinach, silverbeet, broccoli.

 

I have a cat that loves destroying anything paper or cardboard - so I just give him old newspaper and cardboard boxes and let him destroy to his heart's content. It saves the furniture!!!

 

 

The cage has a cuttlebone in it already, along with native branches, Ive added in things for her to destroy while shes in the condition, Im just curious as to how long it lasts, not what to add in for her to keep her busy.

There really is no way to tell how much time it will take. They are all different. Distraction therapy as suggested may be your only way.

Sometimes it lasts for a lifetime. My cat hasn't given up his destructive behaviour in ten years.

Sometimes it lasts for a lifetime. My cat hasn't given up his destructive behaviour in ten years.

 

Yes, you have a seriously useful analogy there. For how long do pregnant women have cravings?

Sometimes it lasts for a lifetime. My cat hasn't given up his destructive behaviour in ten years.

 

Um, and how does your cat being destructive have anything to do with me asking how long my BIRD will be in her breeding condition for?

Sometimes it lasts for a lifetime. My cat hasn't given up his destructive behaviour in ten years.

 

Um, and how does your cat being destructive have anything to do with me asking how long my BIRD will be in her breeding condition for?

 

Shelfie has been in breeding condition for several months. She's moulting now too and is suuuuuuuupppppppper grumpy.

I an supposing that you don't want to breed her?

If not, who can really tell how long.

Destarction is the only thing really!

I an supposing that you don't want to breed her?

If not, who can really tell how long.

Destarction is the only thing really!

 

 

Yeah I wanna breed her, but not now, the nights have been getting very cold, and I don't want the babies to get too cold when neither parents are sitting on them, that and she is only about 9 months old [as is Confetti].

Sometimes it lasts for a lifetime. My cat hasn't given up his destructive behaviour in ten years.

 

Um, and how does your cat being destructive have anything to do with me asking how long my BIRD will be in her breeding condition for?

 

DrNat was refering to the destructive behaviour. We are TRYING to help you here!

 

Do you cover their cage at night? If so for how long? Increasing night time hours can sometimes assist in behaviour changes, such as unwanted breeding etc... I suggest trying this.

Sometimes it lasts for a lifetime. My cat hasn't given up his destructive behaviour in ten years.

 

Um, and how does your cat being destructive have anything to do with me asking how long my BIRD will be in her breeding condition for?

 

DrNat was refering to the destructive behaviour. We are TRYING to help you here!

 

Do you cover their cage at night? If so for how long? Increasing night time hours can sometimes assist in behaviour changes, such as unwanted breeding etc... I suggest trying this.

 

 

Perhaps but I don't see a connection between a cat being destructive, and a bird being destructive cause she is in her breeding condition..

 

And yes I cover the cage, but I do it about an hour after its gotten dark and dad generally uncovered them when he wakes up [which at that point its still dark].

Sometimes it lasts for a lifetime. My cat hasn't given up his destructive behaviour in ten years.

 

Um, and how does your cat being destructive have anything to do with me asking how long my BIRD will be in her breeding condition for?

 

DrNat was refering to the destructive behaviour. We are TRYING to help you here!

 

Do you cover their cage at night? If so for how long? Increasing night time hours can sometimes assist in behaviour changes, such as unwanted breeding etc... I suggest trying this.

 

 

Perhaps but I don't see a connection between a cat being destructive, and a bird being destructive cause she is in her breeding condition..

 

And yes I cover the cage, but I do it about an hour after its gotten dark and dad generally uncovered them when he wakes up [which at that point its still dark].

 

Everyone reads things/sees things differently I guess. I got what she was saying

 

I can't remember off hand, but I think 12 hours is recommended... especially when trying to stop certain behaviours. Other than that, I agree with previous suggestions re: distraction ideas. Change their cage around often and provide plenty of different toys and foraging ideas.

 

I find, with my birds, they are all different, some like toys, some don't, some destroy everything, some don't. Some moult for longer than others. Her destructive behaviour may be brought on by being in breeding condition, or it could be just who she is. Being 9mths old, she could just be developing this behaviour for other reasons.

Do you have a picture of her?

YOu have some really good Ideas here...

Please let us know what you do.

Kate

Budgies in the wild have three basic activity states during the day: travelling/foraging, resting/maintenance and socialising. Socialising can be of two forms - in the breeding season they settle down with their mate and devote all their time to reproduction, which for the female includes destroying things. In the non breeding season, they would be socialising in a big group with all their flock mates. The things that influence what puts a budgie into breeding season mode is hours of light (including artificial light), plenty of readily available food (and water), their flock mates going off in pairs, and a nesting area. While the right stimuli are there, they will stay in breeding condition.

 

Some ways to take a budgie out of breeding mode is to have fewer hours of light, which includes artificial light, and also includes the light that escapes under the covers if the bird is still in a lit room. Perhaps a better definition is actually hours of dark. My suggestion is to put them in their own room at night where the lights can be completely out, since the current daylight hours are decreasing naturally. I also feel that even when covered and there is activity/light in the room, they don't actually sleep, I think they find it a bit disturbing when all this stuff is happening that they can't see.

 

Discourage the "nesting area" concept and simulate "foraging" by moving the cage every week or completely rearranging all their furniture inside at least weekly. This helps simulate a constantly changing environment as the birds forage in the wild. This also takes away the idea that the cage is their territory, as it is during the breeding seaon. Take the spaceship toy out as it encourages her to think it is her nesting area and we need to encourage the idea that thay are "travelling".

 

Having plenty of food in a bowl that is easily accessible allows them to be on a maximum plane of nutrition. Although this also stimulates breeding mode, we don't want to take that away because it is good for them. But, having it so readily available also takes away the "foraging" part of their day and allows them to devote it to maintenance or socialising (in bigger parrots, they can go into "maintenance" overload and start over-preening and plucking. Budgies don't do this so much, and tend to go towards resting or socialising). I suggest lots of captive foraging, making her look for her food and work for it a little to distract her and also to put her into the "foraging" mode for longer during the day. Have a look in our food and nutrition section for ideas on captive foraging.

 

If they spend lots of time alone during the day, try to interact and socialise with them to encourage the idea that they are a flock, rather than a breeding pair. This involves them accepting you as flock members.

 

All birds are different and we all offer them different environments. By thinking about natural behaviour/environment we can at least try to influence their behaviour in an artificial environment.

Edited June 11, 200916 yr by Chrysocome

Do you have a picture of her?

YOu have some really good Ideas here...

Please let us know what you do.

Kate

 

 

her nose is a very dark brown at the moment though, this was taken a month or so before she went into her breeding condition.

 

 

Budgies in the wild have three basic activity states during the day: travelling/foraging, resting/maintenance and socialising. Socialising can be of two forms - in the breeding season they settle down with their mate and devote all their time to reproduction, which for the female includes destroying things. In the non breeding season, they would be socialising in a big group with all their flock mates. The things that influence what puts a budgie into breeding season mode is hours of light (including artificial light), plenty of readily available food (and water), their flock mates going off in pairs, and a nesting area. While the right stimuli are there, they will stay in breeding condition.

 

Some ways to take a budgie out of breeding mode is to have fewer hours of light, which includes artificial light, and also includes the light that escapes under the covers if the bird is still in a lit room. Perhaps a better definition is actually hours of dark. My suggestion is to put them in their own room at night where the lights can be completely out, since the current daylight hours are decreasing naturally. I also feel that even when covered and there is activity/light in the room, they don't actually sleep, I think they find it a bit disturbing when all this stuff is happening that they can't see.

 

Discourage the "nesting area" concept and simulate "foraging" by moving the cage every week or completely rearranging all their furniture inside at least weekly. This helps simulate a constantly changing environment as the birds forage in the wild. This also takes away the idea that the cage is their territory, as it is during the breeding seaon. Take the spaceship toy out as it encourages her to think it is her nesting area and we need to encourage the idea that thay are "travelling".

 

Having plenty of food in a bowl that is easily accessible allows them to be on a maximum plane of nutrition. Although this also stimulates breeding mode, we don't want to take that away because it is good for them. But, having it so readily available also takes away the "foraging" part of their day and allows them to devote it to maintenance or socialising (in bigger parrots, they can go into "maintenance" overload and start over-preening and plucking. Budgies don't do this so much, and tend to go towards resting or socialising). I suggest lots of captive foraging, making her look for her food and work for it a little to distract her and also to put her into the "foraging" mode for longer during the day. Have a look in our food and nutrition section for ideas on captive foraging.

 

If they spend lots of time alone during the day, try to interact and socialise with them to encourage the idea that they are a flock, rather than a breeding pair. This involves them accepting you as flock members.

 

All birds are different and we all offer them different environments. By thinking about natural behaviour/environment we can at least try to influence their behaviour in an artificial environment.

 

 

Mum dosn't want them inside so they stay outside, but covered up at night to try and prevent any cold winds getting to them during the night, though once I move out they will be coming indoors pdunno when that'll be though! ]

You could try straw or hay I dont know the difference(the thiner one) roll it in a ball and tie it up to the top of the cage you can use a clip or peg to if you like.

But pick up the bits that fall on the bottom of the cage, because she could start nesting

Her nose is a very dark brown at the moment though, this was taken a month or so before she went into her breeding condition.

 

Nose??? The bit above the beak is called a cere

Her nose is a very dark brown at the moment though, this was taken a month or so before she went into her breeding condition.

 

Nose??? The bit above the beak is called a cere :question:

 

I know its called a cere lol just quickly replied then logged off to go out

my lutino hen is sort of the same, shes been in condition for 8 weeks now, she was quiet etc beforehand but now that she's moulting while in condition, she has preety much destroyed half of the breeding box she has picked and is extremely pissed off ...i went to pat her yesterday and she latched on to my finger and wouldnt let go even when i moved my hand etc she still stayed on, extremely grumpy, and when she is in the box, she screams and screams when im in the nesting room, im thinking about getting rid of her, dont think she will make a good mother.

my lutino hen is sort of the same, shes been in condition for 8 weeks now, she was quiet etc beforehand but now that she's moulting while in condition, she has preety much destroyed half of the breeding box she has picked and is extremely pissed off ...i went to pat her yesterday and she latched on to my finger and wouldnt let go even when i moved my hand etc she still stayed on, extremely grumpy, and when she is in the box, she screams and screams when im in the nesting room, im thinking about getting rid of her, dont think she will make a good mother.

 

Lemon has always had a few goes at me if I try to get her out of the cage, mainly cause when I had to every day for 2 weeks to give her medicine so she wouldn't have to be put to sleep like Blueberry did cause of the crop parasites. She and Confetti acted all cute and coupley before her breeding condition, but they've been taking alot of digs at each other since then, but every now and again cuddle up to one another, Confetti even feeds her lol, its adorable. But whenever I do breed them I think they would make good parents.