l have been lazy to read the sticky topics and search the internet so hopefully you guys can help me I have bought one breeding pair [ two budgies of opposite sex ] and the petshop owner said they are in there prime as the cock has a dark blue cier [ i think its called that] and the female a dark brownish one. l have bought a bell which contains iodine and calcium for the birds. I have also bought shell grit l believe it is called. They are also located a a quite large aviary for two birds so there is no threats of other birds and there is lots of space to chill. Is there any other things l can do on my part to encourage them to breed.

Edited July 10, 201113 yr by budgerigarsherewecome

Dark brown cere on the hen means she has just gone out of breeding condition. When in breeding condition, her cere will be a light tan colour. A hens cere goes from out of breeding condition (white with a tinge of blue) to in breeding condition (tan) to past breeding condition (dark brown), when it begins to flake off and return to white.

 

Pet shops will say what they have to to get a sale. Sad but true.

I agree with Dave especially about cere colour.

 

Also, as advised in your other topic..........colony breeding is not a good way to go. Two pairs makes a colony breeding situation. Please read the topic I posted a link to for you.

 

AND, you should not put a pair straight down to breed when you get them home as they have been under stress and they need a settling in period. this can be a few weeks or a couple of months.

 

Budgies under stress can get ill very fast. Stress is

being caught

being transported

being sold to a pet store

new food

new "friends"

being caught again

being transported again

New home

New food

New "friends"

New environment

 

All of these things can make a bird ill.

Add to that the additional stress of expecting to breed them the minute they get them home.

 

Is there any other things l can do on my part to encourage them to breed.

 

 

Yes

 

Wait till they have settled in and you know the birds and can be comfortable about their state of health. You say you bought breeding age budgies but how are you to know they havent been near on bred to death before they arrived at your home ? Do not add a nestbox at this stage. Post piks so we can be sure of their ages as pet shop staff lie about stuff like that. Start feeding them up on a varied diet including vegies and fruits.

Breeding is not something to jump into with birds you dont know the history of............

 

wow thanks alot KAZ and DAVE l have already learnt so much from your contribution in my two threads l posted. For sure as soon as day comes tommorrow l will post picture. Now l think about it l probably should have brought it from a breeder it would have been cheaper and more reliable as he obviously knows how many times they have breed etc. In saying that...we learn from our mistakes

...we learn from our mistakes

Yes we do, but if you listen to those who know a shade more than you do, and be prepared to follow good advice..............your birds dont end up paying the price for you learning on them.