My birds decided they'd mate last night during the family dinner, hehe, dinner and a show! It was quite amusing actually... Anyhow! So I've done alot of research about budgie breeding, I know all the theory to budgie breeding, but theres nothing like advice from those of you who have actually experienced it before. I know that many many things can go wrong with budgie breeding, and I know that theres a large chance that most of her eggs wont even hatch. I havn't seen any eggs yet.

 

I moved the pair that coppulated out of the aviary and into a smaller cage with a nest box, the thing is that the cage is square and the nest box just sits on the bottom of the cage, it's kind of in an awkward position.. I don't know how to get their attention to it, well, they have noticed it, but I havn't seen the hen go in it once while they've been in the cage with the nest box.

 

Budgies aren't stupid, it's not like they wont notice the box, right? I put the food bowl right ifront of the opening so hopefully that will help. I don't know.

 

Do you think they will see that there is a huge nest box there for them?

tee hee! She'll notice. Clip a sprig of millett, or their fave vegie in front of the hole. Make sure it is in a position where you can check what's happening in there too. If she does lay an egg, pop it in the box, but she will find it herself in a week or less

(Laughing out loud) I've had a nest box in the bottom of the cage before. The hen finally found out what to do (she layed a few outside the cage) and had three lovely babies.

 

They will see it and putting the food near the hole is great.

They have mated 4 times! (well I've seen them mate 4 times, whos to say they havn't done it more)

 

They are very keen for some babies by the looks of it.

CONGRADS!!!!

 

If i were you, id attach the nest box to the wall somehow, whether that means cutting a hole for the entrace, or hanging it up inside the top of the cage...since i know many females like to have high nests....Although, the floor idea will work!!!....Keep us posted with new info bek!!!

 

Kirby

:(Laughing out loud): They will mate very often during the 9 odd days it take for the first egg to appear. Is she starting to check the box out? Have you got anything in the bottom of the box? Wood shavings are safe for them and help keep the box clean when there are bubs inside. Some time it is kicked all out by the hen as she makes it 'perfect' to her. It also give her somethingfocus her nesting behaviour on.

kirby- it's just not possible for me to do that, I can't cut a hole in the cage because, well, I just can't- it wouldn't sit properly. I am too scared to hang it from the top of the cage because I would hate for it to fall down with the eggs/babies in it. I'm pretty sure it's alright for now, she has noticed the box.

 

nerwen- yeah i put a whole bunch of wood shavings outside the box, incase she wanted to put some in, and I put a little of it inside the box, so she can kick it out if she likes.

 

She has been snooping around the box, infact the other day i saw a feather with her markings on it inside the box, so hopefully she has been in it. She is very keen on inspecting the box.

 

Oh, and I've witnessed them at it again! It's been about a week for them in the cage with the nest box.

Things are looking good. A lot of hens whill drop a few feathers in the box. Just be sure to check she isn't coming into a big moult becuase that and laying and raiseing chicks whould be extra stressful.