When we put up our avery I intended to get finches (I've had them before) however I was advised that finches don't survive too well outside around here (We just moved interstate) so we got cockatiels and a pair of budgies. now the budgies made themselves right at home in the cockitiels box and made little budgies, 5-7 I'm not really certain, however when I checked them this evening, there was a newly hatched one in amongst the others. she wouldn't still be laying would she? and also, is there any way I can stop them continueing to breed? will it hurt them if I just remove the eggs?

She's probably still on her first clutch. When the babies are around about 4-6 weeks she'll probably start laying again so if you don't want more babies you need to remove the eggs and replace them with fake eggs (i think you can get them from pet shops?). Let her sit on these and once she abandons them remove the nest box.

you lucky things are going well for your budgies. If you don't know the amount of eggs laid or chicks hatched it means you haven't been checking on them each day. Budgies lay eggs every 2nd day and the babies hatch in the same way. So there can be a big difference with ages in the babes of one clutch. They take four weeks to grown in the nest and about another two been feed by the parents and learning to brave the world outside.

 

I would be keeping a close watch on the cockitiels that they don't bully the young ones when they are learning to come out of the box and fly. Also it's a good idea to give your parent budges some veggies like lettuce and carrots and some fruit like apply (no seeds) or pears to give them something extra nice to eat and feed the young, Some sprouted seeds would be an idea as well.

As Bea and Nerwen put it.

 

When did they lay their first Clutch?

Has the chicks fedged (come out of the nest)?

I sthis the next set of eggs?

Its their first clutch, I've only had the birds a few months, the chicks are in the box still, for that matter will they be able to get out on their own? thay are in a cockatiel nesting box. I check the eggs/chicks once a week, just to ensure that they are alive, the birds get seed, and a mix of fruit and veg once a week, with some weeds/grass tossed in every other day. the chicks seem healthy, I'm fairly certain that the eldest is only a week or so old. I can take a photo if that would help? at least budgies are less tempermental than finches, if I messed around the finches nests this much the mothers would abandon them! Removing the boxes is not an option since I'm still wanting the cockatiels to breed.

So, the only logical thing to do is shift the budgies after the babies have fledged and mum has been sitting on marbles for 2 weeks.

(Sorry - Been watching too much star trek voyager's tuvok!!!)

Well just remove the box and no box no breeding can happen but this can only occur after all babies have left the nest

I use fake eggs and when all the babies have left home I remove the box

Although I use breeding cages with the box attached as I found this was the best way to go

In a open aviary its very hard and stressful for the breeding pair as there always fending off other birds from there nest

But if you breed in separate cages no problems at all just over production

There is no other way to stop budgies from breeding than to remove anything that looks like a suitable spot. If you are wanting the cockatiels to breed you will have do so where the budgies can't get to the box.

 

Pictures would be great not only do we love seeing youngones grown we can help with age. I'm glad to hear the great diet you have them on a lot of owners think seed is all budgies need.

Budgies are way too aggressive for you to breed tiels in the same cage. You run the very real risk of the budgies killing any babies, or hassling the parents so much they abandon them.