Despite having more than enough breeding boxes for each bird, they do occasionally squabble over a prefered box. After each of my three breeding hens clutches are out and about, I am going to remove the boxes for a few months to give them all a break. But, as each clutch is at a different stage of development, I am a bit nervous. Budgies are known for being prolific breeders, and in the past I have had some lay a second clutch of eggs while the former chicks are still in the box. So my concern is that once the oldest clutch is out and I remove the box, the hen and her partner will try and move into another pairs box while their babies are at a younger stage of development. Should I be worried?

 

Also, I am absolutely loving this forum. I have found the friendliness of people and how helpful they are very encouraging.

 

Cheers,

 

Jacob

I see your dilemma, and this is one of the problems with colony breeding. One thing you can do is buy some fake eggs. I would leave the boxes in there, but each time a hen lays an egg you do not want to be there, go in, remove the real egg, bin it, and put in a fake egg. This way the hen is happy she has an egg, she will not squabble over a nestbox if you had removed it, and although she may continue to lay eggs, she ill eventually think she has layed enough, due to the increasing number of eggs, even though most of them are fake. Once all young are hatched, removed nestboxes and fake eggs.

 

The other option you have is to get to the point where the babies are old enough to allow you to remove them and their parents to another cage. Do not move the babies when they are too young, as the parents may abandon them. I would wait until they have their down and their pins are coming through, them move them to another cage. You can put them in a cage in an ice-cream container in the bottom of the cage. Put both mum and dad in there, unless mum is trying to lay again, then just dad. Keep an eye on them though. You might need a lamp to keep their temperature up.

 

Others might have other suggestions, but there are some thoughts of mine. Nice to hear you are enjoying coming on here and that people are providing you encouragement. I do not think I had the opportunity before, so let me issue my own welcome.

Daves advice is very good. Might be the best way if you remove the hens for a break in another cage as well as remove the nestbox.

Cheers guys

 

I might give it a shot.