Breeding condition is a change in a birds body to prepare for reproducing. When your budgies they are in breeding condition they are primed and ready to raise their chicks, they are at peak fertility, and have the optimal hormone levels to carry out raising a family from start to finish.
These hormone levels are ideal for egg development and fertilization, as well as parenting drives for raising the resulting chicks to be healthy confidant adults. |
In the wild the weather and food supplies it brings has a huge effect on breeding! Australia is normally very dry and finding enough food for themselves is very difficult during the dry seasons, so when there is the greatest amount of food during the wet seasons is when budgies naturally begin to breed.
High protein and fat foods will encourage breeding condition. You will also want to increase their calcium intake with cuttlebones, mineral blocks and liquid calcium. |
Once you are seeing signs that your pair is actively in breeding condition they are ready for you to introduce a nest box.
Adding some shavings for the female to kick out and arrange in the box will trigger her nesting instincts. We like to add some spray millet in the box so the hen has something to eat during the long hours she spends in the box incubating and feeding the chicks as well. If your pair is fully conditioned and bonded, you can expect eggs (hopefully fertile!) to be laid 7-14 days later. |