Hey all,

I've had my budgies in a breeding cage with a nest box.

They seem to be bonding- the cock is feeding the hen and they preen each other often, although the cock never sings or chirps (to the hen). I was just wondering if I should take out the nest box if there are no signs of any eggs or mating for a certain amount of time?

 

Or am I just being silly? :

How long has the nest box been in? As your budgies are bonding and being lovey then i would leave them together for as long as you want and take away the box if you think they are getting stressed by the whole situation. If they weren't bonded to start with and hadn't showed any signs of bonding after a month i would take away the box.

They have been together in the cage with the box for about 2 weeks or so and have been bonding ever since. Every time I watch them they seem to become more bonded, I wonder why it's taking so long for them to produce eggs though.

if this is the hens first time it can take a while and two weeks if a fine period of time to have to wait. Is the hen in condition? her cere a nice dark brown and flaky looking, it might not be flaky but most are. If not this might drag out the time length for eggs. Are they araid of the box? not sure how you have it set up but if insdie to they climb all over it? or Do they sit ont he otehr side of the cage to it? If they do seems scare put some of they favourite things near the hole to eat. Each time making then get closer and closer to the opening.

Another thing some hens like to 'clean' their nest. Is there anything inside the box like wood shavings (making sure it's safe for budgies) scattered in there. Chewing and removing loose bits of woods is like the natural instinct of making nest in the hollow. It might work or it might not, but with a first time mother you have try a few thing to find out what she likes.

One other thing is the hole facing them? I don't mean are you sure you put the nest to the cage the right way But some boxs have the ole to the side not on the end and the placement if the hole makes it harder for the birds to 'see' it. I had mine facing one way and the hen was trying to create her own hole into it until I faced it 90 degrees. (of cuase mine was all the way in the cage not hanging outside.)

Hi nerwen,

Her cere is a little flakey, and a tanish colour

 

Afriad of the box? no way, they climb all over it and when she or the cock poos on it, she chips it off with her beak as soon as it goes hard. I have the whole nest box inside the cage, and I have put some millet spray around the opening of the box- which they love. I have two perches infront of the nest box hole and they sit on those while they preen each other. I also have some wood shavings inside the box (from the pet store- the same woodshavings they use for mouse bedding)

 

I'm pretty sure she has noticed the box, but I have never seen her go inside it.

Edited November 2, 200519 yr by bek_

Sounds like al lis going well The next step is inside. Yes mine popped all over the top too then picked it off :rollseyes:

 

Sound like the only think you can do is wait Hard I know.

thanks guys

Leave the box in for them. When I put up the boxes for the first time it took my birds 2-3 weeks to go in and out of them and then another 6 months before I finally got eggs. The good thing is the second round they take to the nestboxes much faster. I moved them outside to breed for the rest of the summer and I put the boxes up for a second round and it took them three days to go in and out. Then 2-3 weeks to lay eggs.