Hi, I've had my 2 budgies out in a large flight cage (800 x 500 x 850h) on my back deck since there were young (m & f). Both were from different breeders and were to be hand tamed pets for the kids. Unfortunately despite best intentions they didn't come inside for play every day as intended and became full time aviary birds.

 

Around Oct last year I put a nest box in there (more for shelter) though they get religiously covered every evening and uncovered every morning and are out of the weather on a warm, morning-sunned deck.

 

They are both about 18 months old now, and having seen the girl pop in and out of the nest box lately, have discovered first 1 egg, then 2nd (2 days later), no 3rd just yet (next day).

 

My concerns are:

 

1. It's June tomorrow and a strange time for breeding. Due to winter coming do I need to attach a heat mat (7w) on the back then enclose it a bit, maybe attach temporary lino to back, and half where the box is? The cage can come inside (its on wheels) but then they won't get natural light.

 

2. Ive read your breeding forums. Do they need an actual breeding cage or can I leave them where they are?

 

I'd appreciate your expert opinion on how best to now look after this young family.

 

I'd like to hand tame the babies (should all go to plan). I have past experience in hand rearing/taming before I had the kids.

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

Budgies don't need the nest boxes for shelter it just encourages breeding, so once you have finished with the breeding I would suggest you take the box out. Budgies breed all year round. The cage they are in sounds fine just leave them in it, but I would just make sure it is out of any drafts and I would cover it at night just to keep them a bit warmer.

 

Good luck, I hope everything works out.

Yes agree with Nadene, Mine are breeding at this moment too, I'm in QLD too and mine are coping okay.

yeah no heat mat either, they will transfer their body heat into the eggs just fine.

One of my birds just finished laying she laid 3 eggs and she is copping just fine and its winter today.

Thanks for your replies everyone. Always covered at night There's a third egg this morning so I'm really happy.