Hey guys, first time on the forum so howdy.

 

Anyway, I need some advice on a pair of budgerigars I am trying to breed. All up i have 6 budgie (3 females and 3 males). 2 of the female are still a few months of being old enough to breed (just gonna leave them to growing for a bit). The third, Rose, is about 14 months old. I have paired her with a male of the same age, Pat. They are both in breeding condition ( A light brown cere and light blue). I have set up the cage so the nest box is on the outside on the front of the cage and the other 3 sides are covered for privacy (they also have plenty of food, water, mineral block and veg). I have had them in the current cage for a few days now (the last cage was closer to the ground so i thought it might make them more comfortable to be a bit higher up in this new cage. I have spent an hour or two over the last day observing them to see how they are going. The hen seems to be quite happy with her partner and preens him but sometimes the male flys to get away from her. (Also the Hen seems to be gaining interest in the nest box, so does the cock). SO heres the where I am confused one minute she's preening him and he's happy, the next he's trying to get away from her?

 

What do you think I should do? I have some other males who are almost in breeding condition (also around 1 year old). Should I change pat for another male or should I just wait it out for a while. I have been reading the master breeder web page and it say that the bond is usually formed within the first few hours.

 

P.s. Also in the event that the pair to start to breed I have extra cages and equipment to accommodate that to. Also I should add that I am only breeding Pat and Rose as the other hens are still to young to pair of with the other cocks.

 

Thanks,

Biggles

Edited May 12, 201213 yr by Biggles2211

Hi, Well they don't need privacy to breed. If they are in breeding condition and they bond it should happen. If conditions are right. You said male has "light blue" cere? I understood for males to be in breeding condition cere should be a strong bright blue. Maybe he's not quite ready to breed, see what others think. They will preen each other just in aviary they don't need to be a pair to do that.

So maybe I should swap the male for a different one with a stronger light blue cere? Or just wait it out for a bit?

Edited May 13, 201213 yr by Biggles2211

I agree with Robyn......the cocks cere isnt in full breeding condition.

 

Also a female not in breeding condition will have a cere thats both white and blue appearing to be pale blue, so be sure you have put two females together.

 

Normally you need more than a few days BUT based on "cocks" cere colour ( if it is a cock ) then you need a boy with a strong blue cere.

 

Also remove the cage draping.....they dont need PRIVACY at all......this is us as humans putting our feelings and thoughts onto birds and thinking they want privacy when they dont give a toss actually .........and in fact you may be robbing them of the daylight they need to get "randy" A budgie intent on mating will do so whether or not you can see them and whether or not they are visible to all and sundry. Generally mating occurs before we are all out of bed in the morning and at dusk in the evenings as well. I have had two budgies mating on my shoulder in the aviary...that's how little they care for privacy.

 

If there's no aviary noise near them put the radio on by their cage. Its simulates aviary chatter and makes them less fearful of quiet. Quiet is a sign of danger to birds...Will make them apprehensive

okay, so remove the cage cover, make sure the boy is actually a boy and have some a radio or some thing playing near the cage (Budgies mating to the Hamish & Andy show, now theres a thought). Will do, thanks guys.

Edited May 13, 201213 yr by Biggles2211

Hey Guys, Ive got some photos of the pair. Sorry for the bad lighting it was night time and i had to improvise.

This is Pat, the cock

 

 

 

This is Rose, the Hen (sorry for the bad image quality, she wasn't being very obliging)

 

 

I've taken the cover of their cage (you can see it in the image above) and I'm also pretty sure Pat is a boy.

Anyway, any advice or opinions would be awesome.

Cheers,

Biggles

Edited May 14, 201213 yr by Biggles2211

Pat is a boy

Haha Cool thanks Kaz, is his cere right colour? In condition i mean? I think it is a strong light blue but a experienced opinion would be great.

Ill try get some better pictures up soon.

CHeers

Edited May 14, 201213 yr by Biggles2211

Hey guys, I managed to get some more pictures of the rose's (female) Cere.

 

I think the cere is the right colour. What do you guys reckon?

 

Also Just for the heck heres the rest of the flock...

 

These are the two males. Hamkeye is the Yellow face on the left and I haven't named the little guy on the right yet.

 

These are the two hens. Peggy is the one on the left and Sunny is the one on the right.

Cheers Guys.

G'day guys.

So I've moved pat out of the cage as they didn't appear to be bonding. The both seem settled now though and I'm going to try the blue fellow tomorrow. Any thoughts or advice would be good.

cheers

Rose is out of condition...her cere is at the stage where the colour is peeling off. So dont try and breed her right now.

 

 

The other photos are too dark...try again

Edited May 19, 201213 yr by **KAZ**

okay, Thanks Kaz, I won't breed Rose and ill try get some better pictures up.

 

P.S. Should I leave them together or keep them separated and wait for her to come back into breeding condition?

Edited May 19, 201213 yr by Biggles2211

. Should I leave them together or keep them separated and wait for her to come back into breeding condition?

 

It is up to you. Your hen probably has several weeks to go before her cere starts to turn smooth tan again. If the breeding cage is small, I would house them somewhere larger until they are ready to breed. If the breeding cage is roomy, then just take the box out until they are ready.

 

If you have a large enough cage that can house all 6 of your birds, then you can keep them all together, and let them pick their own mates. (Which isn't necessary, they bond and un-bond, and will usually accept whatever mate that we choose for them.)

 

Or, you can keep them separated by gender, and then when it's time for pairing, you won't have to be concerned about sperm from an unkown cock fertilizing any of the eggs.

Hey guys, Just a quick question is it to cold to breed them right now? (QLD, about 21 degrees during the day and down to about 8 or 9 during the night).

Cheers.