We have put this article together to give anyone considering breeding their budgies some things to think about, as well as some of the basics to cover before you set your pair up.
It sounds like a very rewarding experience to raise a clutch of healthy baby budgies, and it is the absolute truth when everything goes well with healthy chicks as a result. But raising that clutch of healthy babies is not going to happen unless you make it happen. These little creatures are only going to do what comes naturally for them, and when we provide the right circumstances in our homes for them to breed we are responsible for the outcome. |
Do you know of a qualified avian or other vet close to you for help when you need it?
Your closest avian vet should be one of your birds best friends. They are the ones you will need to go to when you have a problem and often times it will be a life threatening one when you are faced with rushing them to one. |
Do you have a proper breeding set up?
You will need a cage that is big enough for your pair and the babies that are going to soon come until they are weaned. 30x18x18 is the ideal size for one pair, smaller cages can cause fighting and the pair to attack their chicks when they have no where to go for their own space. You will need secure perches of different sizes to make sure they will mate successfully and have fertile eggs, and to exercise their feet during the time they are breeding.
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You will need to check on the eggs and chicks daily and clean the nest box and the only way to do this safely and with as little disturbance to your pair is to have a box that is hung outside the cage. Most breeding cages come with a door specifically for this purpose, or you can trim a few bars from your cage to make a hole just big enough for the entrance hole.
Make sure your box is clean and free from any sharp pieces or hardware sticking out or paint that the hen can chew while nesting. It needs to have a concave to prevent the eggs and chicks from going all over the box, and the floor needs, and needs to be made of a rough surface so that the chicks and mom will be able to have grip. |
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What is a good breeding diet?
Their diet is one of the biggest things that is going to make healthy parents and chicks or not. A seed and water with vitamin drops is no where close to a good breeding diet.
They need to be eating lots of fresh fruits and veggies, egg food in addition to seed mix at the very least. Please look here for more information about your pairs diet: |
Some signs that your hen is getting ready to lay eggs are increased calcium intake, larger droppings, and an enlarged lower abdomen (egg bum). Once she begins she will typically lay an egg every other day until she has completed her clutch. Watch out for hens that have irregular laying cycles as it can indicate a hormone imbalance and possible other problems that can result.
Make sure you have lots of extra calcium available to her at this time, and exposure to sun light so she can absorb it. |
Hand feeding is something best shown and not described, as it is very easy to kill a chick with one wrong move.
Having an experienced breeder or avian vet give you some lessons is very wise and will help you to be much more confident! They can also give you pointers and suggestions on things you might be doing wrong. |
At what age does a budgie chick they usually wean?
Most parent raised chicks wean between 5-6 weeks of age depending on how early or late they have fledged, and their own individual personalities.
The first week after they have fledged they will spend most of the time they are not sleeping tasting new foods and exploring the breeding cage. Make sure you have lots of good food in shallow dishes on the floor that they can easily reach and a shallow dish of water for them to begin learning to drink from. |
In the wild they are forced to stop breeding when the conditions in their environment change. Food and water sources dwindle and fewer daylight hours cause them to stop breeding after raising a couple of clutches.
Your pair needs a good rest after raising a clutch or two. Letting them raise clutch after clutch is not only dangerous for them but for the chicks they produce as well, because in their weakened state they can barely care for themselves let alone growing babies. Do not try to push your luck with more than they can handle, if they show any signs of loosing weight or exhaustion make them rest, its your job to do so just like would happen naturally in the wild. |