Hi everyone, after watching my budgies all go through their winter moult and finally noting the weather get warmer (wetter by far - but much warmer, no more frosts) all my budgies have gone crazy! They are all mating and playing and preening eachother all the day long. I paired up one couple a while back (like last week) who were looking in every nook and cranny and were very obviously seeking to lay, so i put them in a breeding cabinet attached to the aviary and sure enough she laid today.

 

Last month in preparation for this upcoming breeding season i have slowly started to increase their protein and ensured other nutrients are available, and i paired up 5 pairs on paper, all with alternate mates should things not go well with their initial pairing (I only have five breeding cabinets, one of which now has eggs. On paper each male has a female i most hope to breed them with, and then two alternate females i would be happy for them to breed with if things dont work out with the initial female). All breeding cabinets have been cleaned with anti-mould and anti-mite products recently and are positively ready to go.

 

My real problem is that i had planned to put everyone down in august as it is generally warmer and august/september is when most of the breeders i know start to put their birds down. However, seeing all my birds in definate breeding mode is making me wonder if i should strike while the iron is hot? The average temperatures in hamilton are the same for july and august - about 15 degrees average high, 5 degrees average low.

 

What are everyones thoughts?? Should i hold off and wait 6-7 weeks for the hens to restart their cycle? Should i put a few test pairs down? Should i go all in? Aaargh, once the breeding fever starts its hard to hold off lol. I am very eager to see the outcome of this years pair planning!

Edited July 5, 200916 yr by Dean_NZ

We are past the winter solstice, so the days are getting longer and lighter now, so provided there are no cold snaps in August, should be okay. My birds are in breeding mode too, but it's a lot warmer here.

I have noticed that in the cooler months you need to make sure all the young babies are back in the nest box before nightfall, or there is a separate cardboard baby shelter to crawl into, because sometimes the parents accidentally kick them out too young and they may die from exposure overnight.

That said, If your birds are showing signs they are ready and are in condition go for it.

Your birds are telling you its breeding time, and they breed better when they are keen. As long as you are happy with the weather conditions where you live.......go for it

I think what i will do is because the hens have been mating willy nilly, i will seperate them and put them into the breeding cabinets for 2 weeks (let any sperm stores pass their used by dates!). During this time i will give liquid calcium + vitamin D in preparation for laying - they shouldnt need it, but i know one hen will likely benefit from it at least. I'll probably start them on small amounts of soft food and sprouted seed and hopefully when i introduce the males i HOPE they will accept then its all on...

As I learnt to my peril earlier in the year: pair up and put your birds down when they are ready and raring to go, NOT according to your own schedule!

 

Mainly I find the cold snaps only a potential problem when the chicks are newly hatched, up to about 1 week old, and then I stress when it's less than about 7C .... so I run a heater just to be safe.

 

For my part I keep track of hatchings and watch the forecast VERY carefully, and I always allow a margin of 1 or 2 degrees.

 

Happy Breeding!

Dean it's going to be very dependant on your location and different for everyone. As much as Kaz says don't pair to your own schedule I kinda do because........ I have an uninsulated shed that gets mighty cold AND after nine years my results in winter SUCK bigtime. I noted that my birds fertility and hatchability increased around September so for the last 3 years I have put my birds down then. I do have birds going crazy right now but will not bother with the terrible results to try and breed them at the moment.

 

However from talking with lots of different people - that few degrees warmer that you can get with insulation and a heater makes a difference but for me breeding through summer is much more productive so that's what I do. It's just been trial and error, finding the right time for my birds to breed at their best.

 

I do still only choose birds that are in condition though........ you are on a hiding to nowhere if you try and breed birds that are not in breeding condition - yours don't sound like that though

Edited July 6, 200916 yr by nubbly5

Yeah hard to decide really. If i think about it, i am probably better off waiting 7 weeks or so for the hens to cycle over again. That'll be late august / early september and chances are it will pay off. Patience hmm...

I have been impatient, but have decided to wait, as I am only a beginner, and don't want unwanted trouble on my hands.

 

 

 

I cant wait to breed mine.....have fun when you do.

Same Kirsty! some of my birds are raring to go! YAY