Should I put my budgie breeding box in? My birds are not quite old enough,but I wasn't sure. Thanks.

 

If they aren't old enough, then no you shouldn't put the breeding box in. Though, in preparation for breeding you can continue doing as much research as possible. Visit a breeder, even.

 

And to get an idea of the opposite end of the spectrum, maybe you should visit a rescue.

The male is a few months or so short from the 'suggested age' of a year. He is 9 1/2 months old and ready to breed. He has two weeks until the suggested age in the book I have,but many said it's good to wait until a year. I wanted chicks soon,because I own English budgies,and I want to sell my stock by summer,and I don't know if they will be ready then if I wait. I want to buy a new pair soon. What is wrong with breeding at ten months?

If you're planning on selling your current birds, why are you wanting to breed them? I've probably just misunderstood what you mean.

 

How old is the hen? It's suggested to wait until they are 12 months old so that they are mentally stable/mature enough to handle raising chicks. They are physically capable to breed at a younger age but mentally they aren't really "mature" until around a year of age. My birds are all around a year of age and they still act quite like babies in my opinion.

Basically if you breed too young, the parents may neglect or even kill their babies. It's not worth the risk. I feel 12 months is too young, I prefer 18 months. Breeding should be done carefully, not with a time frame in mind. Living beings can't be forced to conform to your schedule, I'm sure you don't want a tragedy to take place

12 months is the widley recognised breeding age, birds which are younger can breed but it takes a lot out of a bird to bring up healthy chicks you do not want to put your birds at risk by breeding to young

My female is roughly 16-18 months old. She was born over a year ago,and I know she's over 15months. It's just the male. I figured it would be okay,since the female is the one raising the chicks. Also,I want to sell the chicks,not my actual breeding pair . I know the appropriate age for selling chicks... 6 weeks is the okay,I heard,but I'm waiting until 3 months or maybe a bit less...I heard it's a good age to sell. I have a lovely spangled and pied olive female and a cute recessive pied blue male. I love the two,and I want to breed them. Will they 'breed' if the box is not in? What's the percentage chance that they will Not breed??

They may breed, but with a young male I think there is a good chance the eggs will be clear. Sometimes it takes a bit before they "get" how to mate. It's a balancing act plus the hens will only allow mating if the male is properly wooing her, otherwise she will chase him away. I think the risk is not worth it, personally I would wait another 6 months.

Should I buy a new male? He seems to be wooing my pet budgie instead of the female! Ahhhhh!! She feeds him and sometimes preens him through the cage bars. They are the same age,too.

Just a thought but ....if you are thinking about making money by breeding your birds.....you won't because as with all animals, responsible and caring breeders provide proper care and it is expensive with feeding, vet bills etc.....I have only ever spent money!!

With your dilemma....as Rainbow said he will probably "shoot blanks" so to speak, that's if he can even work out what to do..I know what you mean by thinking he's ready, I have had lots of young males that act ready, sometimes even trying it on with a bottlebrush (the plant) ....my concern was if he could mentally cope and look after the hen and chicks, being a dad for the first time is a challenge! Good luck

Yeah,he's so unsure of himself. She is much older than he is,too..I'm worried she won't accept him.... He goes to her then darts away she even yells at him to approach her. I know why she yells because soon ofter he creeps up to her and runs away again....

 

And my mom is paying for the expenses( heehee!!) The English Budgies go for 35-50 dollars per bird,too..so I could make decent amounts for another pair... I'm young,but I read non-stop about the birds so I know alot about what to do...

The hesitation and the running up to her then running away is normal behavior. Even males that have reproduced many times will do that. It's just the next step after all the singing he probably does. He will do that until she stops "screaming" at him LOL. She is screeching either because she is not in the mood or because he is not wooing her right. He might start to put his foot up onto her back next. She probably won't allow that right away, and may even chase him off. Once that stage stops, she should allow him to feed her frequently. However, she won't allow him to mate unless he feeds her fast enough.

 

Does everything boil down to food with these birds....???? :fear

(Laughing out loud),yeah,they do eat alot. I separated them when a tiny bickering issue appeared, they were biting eachother and making fighting noises(I'd know,my females fight once and a while through the cage bars) So I'm hoping they get more bonded in a way,it's only for a few days anyway...

 

they live in a two-piece cage,it has a thing that can separate them...but they're still in the same cage and can still kiss and preen(since he's so keen on scratching his head on the cage bars..he's such a doofus!!)

The English Budgies go for 35-50 dollars per bird,too..so I could make decent amounts for another pair

If that is the only way you can afford another pair you shouldn't be breeding. You said your mother is paying for the expenses? Have her buy another pair rather than breeding and then selling birds. What happens if something goes wrong? The cost of vet care is going to be WAY more than a pair of budgies. It makes very little sense.

 

Breeding just so you have babies to sell just so you can buy more birds...??

(Laughing out loud)...I sounded mean in that... No,I can afford another pair right now,but my mom said I had to wait. I'm breeding the birds to get better show birds. I'm going to keep one and sell the rest because I cannot keep them at this moment. My mom won't let me have many birds. I want to keep them all and try to get the best showbird and improve the color varieties I'd have,but even though I've explained it to my mom,she doesn't understand. Both my females are 'out of season' and I'm sorta happy. It's hard to explain why,I just am...

Your mom doesn't want you to have many birds so you're breeding them intead of buying them...it still makes no sense. If your mother has a problem with you having a lot of birds, you shouldn't be breeding them (for any reason). The easiest way to end up with a lot of birds is to breed them.

 

If you can't keep them, you shouldn't breed them. I'm not saying all breeders have to keep their birds BUT they DO have to have the means to keep them in case things go wrong with the new homes. I'm explaining myself really unclearly here, I know.

 

Basically, it's not very smart to breed birds when your mom doesn't want you to have many birds.

Edited January 16, 200619 yr by eterri

I have to agree with Terri. If you can't keep all the babies then you shouldn't breed. What if there was something wrong with a baby or you couldn't find a responsible home for all the babies? Then what?

Just to throw in my two cents worth.The male bird feeds the female bird while she is sitting on the eggs.At least mine did.It takes lot out of him.If he is still young all of that should probably be going into his own physical growth and developement.It is sort of like teenage pregnancies.It can be done but it isn't the best for the parent or the offspring.If you love your little charges and I am sure you do.You have to think about what is in their very best interest and make that priority one.

If anything at ALL went wrong with a chick and he/she was deformed or couldn't find a good home, I'd keep it. My mom is odd. It's a new hobby of mine and within a year,my mom will let me have more. I am breeding Show birds. People get rid of show dogs that they breed, sometimes all, sometimes not. It's similar! I love my birds alot and wouldn't want to do anything to hurt them. I'm waiting until my male is 13 months before I will breed him. Thanks for the advice.

The English Budgies go for 35-50 dollars per bird,too..so I could make decent amounts for another pair

If that is the only way you can afford another pair you shouldn't be breeding. You said your mother is paying for the expenses? Have her buy another pair rather than breeding and then selling birds. What happens if something goes wrong? The cost of vet care is going to be WAY more than a pair of budgies. It makes very little sense.

 

Breeding just so you have babies to sell just so you can buy more birds...??

 

wow and a big wow eterri, I would expect a very high percentage the the forum would disagree with you on this one. There is many here that breed bird to sell or to show. If you are showing birds then you have to lok at selling the ones that don't come up to stratch. I am selling mine and so do many others. But that doesn't mean we are not responcible in what we do. ....... Oh and yes you are right the vet costs decrease the income. I just spent $55.00 on Bluey because he was sick and it was well worth it.

 

Let me note though that I don't sell for profit. Just to cover costs.

 

Your mom doesn't want you to have many birds so you're breeding them intead of buying them...it still makes no sense. If your mother has a problem with you having a lot of birds, you shouldn't be breeding them (for any reason). The easiest way to end up with a lot of birds is to breed them.

 

If you can't keep them, you shouldn't breed them. I'm not saying all breeders have to keep their birds BUT they DO have to have the means to keep them in case things go wrong with the new homes. I'm explaining myself really unclearly here, I know.

 

Basically, it's not very smart to breed birds when your mom doesn't want you to have many birds.

 

I can't work that one out either ... :ausb: I just set two pairs, thats 4 birds. out of which I could get 10 (ten eggs) Clutches can range to 6 eggs. from 4 birds to 14 in two months. Thats a big multiplication. You have to have room for the chicks when they fledge.

 

This is my spare cage.

 

If your mother doesn't ant any more birds, you may end up with a lot in a hurry.

 

 

What if there was something wrong with a baby or you couldn't find a responsible home for all the babies? Then what?

 

 

You have to consider this. The mother may not feed your baby first off. Can you do 2 hour feeding for as long as it takes the mother to get it right. My last clutch, the mother didn't feed the baby properly it took all day. I was lucky.

 

These are thing to think about before you breed. If you are thinking about getting another male to quickly breed with. Remember he will need to be in Quarantine for 30 to 45 days before for breed. Just incase he hasn't got anything wrong with him.

Edited January 19, 200619 yr by daz

I didn't mean that breeders shouldn't sell their birds, daz. I just meant that if her mother doesn't want her to have multiple birds then how could she possibly keep the birds IF the situation ended up calling for that? For example, what if someone changed their minds about the birds they purchased and had to give them back to her? What if she can't find homes for all the birds? What if the birds end up raising more chicks than she was prepared to handle?

 

It just seemed odd that she wants to breed birds, then sell birds, so she can buy MORE birds when her mother doesn't want her to have many birds. :ausb:

Edited January 19, 200619 yr by eterri

I didn't mean that breeders shouldn't sell their birds, daz. I just meant that if her mother doesn't want her to have multiple birds then how could she possibly keep the birds IF the situation ended up calling for that? For example, what if someone changed their minds about the birds they purchased and had to give them back to her? What if she can't find homes for all the birds? What if the birds end up raising more chicks than she was prepared to handle?

 

It just seemed odd that she wants to breed birds, then sell birds, so she can buy MORE birds when her mother doesn't want her to have many birds. :ausb:

 

I total agree.

 

It is a lot of work and responcibility also the housing question. Do you have the room. It takes me a half an hour each morning just to give fresh water, clean food. Then you have all the costs of fresh vegatables, medication, seed. Treats. Vet bills. Proper breeding cages for closed breeding. My dual breeding box was $135.00au. The aviary (that I built) cost $500.00au. Housing for the chicks after fledging and before going to the aviary $ 350.00au.

 

I think if you are going to do it right put $1000.00au aside to spend in the 1st year. Return on chicks $10.00au unless sold privately then maybe $15.00au.

 

If you are going to do it professionally and breed high class show birds. Multiply costs by 5 - 10. Hath would know better than me though.

Yep it's a hobby of love not money :hap:

Multiply costs by 5 - 10. Hath would know better than me though.

 

better of asking the wife my bird house with everything installed £3000 seed for the year including millet ect £200 then buying your birds good show birds can cost £100's but a good start bird will be 50 to 60 pounds so thats around £100 pair you will need 3 pairs (and they are not gaurenteed to breed) chicks from these will sell at £10 till you start winning shows then you can start charging more (but it is not easy to win) but you will want to keep these chicks from winning stock,vets bills on an average £350 to £500 then when your as daft as me you give away 35% of the chicks to try and get the younger generation interested oh i forgot society fees ring, ring orders and show cages and covers and in my case the electricity to run two fans, heater, lights there sure are cheaper hobbys but in my opinion none more rewarding and satisfying

Multiply costs by 5 - 10. Hath would know better than me though.

 

better of asking the wife my bird house with everything installed £3000 seed for the year including millet ect £200 then buying your birds good show birds can cost £100's but a good start bird will be 50 to 60 pounds so thats around £100 pair you will need 3 pairs (and they are not gaurenteed to breed) chicks from these will sell at £10 till you start winning shows then you can start charging more (but it is not easy to win) but you will want to keep these chicks from winning stock,vets bills on an average £350 to £500 then when your as daft as me you give away 35% of the chicks to try and get the younger generation interested oh i forgot society fees ring, ring orders and show cages and covers and in my case the electricity to run two fans, heater, lights there sure are cheaper hobbys but in my opinion none more rewarding and satisfying

I should have made that 50 - 1000......

 

I am just doing the sums on the new bird house..... Cost of cement flooring, new shed, alteration to existing shed to convert to breeding house, extra breeding cages ??/$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

Hey It's a hobbie and as Hath put it none more rewarding and satisfying