How to Breed a Pet Parakeet
The Budgie, or parakeet, is one of the most common types of birds to raise in the home because of their playful nature and small size. Because of this, some may consider breeding their pet; however, careful consideration should be taken before making such a commitment as specific conditions must be maintained to ensure successful breeding between a pair.
- Purchase a cage that is the right size. One that is a minimum 24 inches wide x 16 inches deep x 16 inches high is best.
- Buy a wooden nesting box for the birds to use as their nest. Depending on the type of box, it may be placed inside or outside of the cage. Only use the type of box that goes inside of the cage if you have a relatively large cage for the birds. Most nesting boxes have either a hinged lid on the top. The box must also have a hole for the birds to enter that has a diameter of at least 1.5 inches. These are typically available at pet stores.
- Add a wooden insert to the bottom of the cage if there is not one already. It should have a concave circle in the middle. This helps prevent the hatched chicks from forming splayed legs.
- Add wood or unscented pine shavings to the bottom of the box on top of the insert. The female also supplements the shavings with her feathers to create a nest for her eggs.
- Attach the nesting box to the cage according to the type of box that is being used.
- Add cuttlebone or a mineral block to the cage to help increase calcium, which ensures proper formation of the eggs.
- Buy a second parakeet. Ensure that the new parakeet is 12 months or older. Avoid buying from the same breeder as your current parakeet to ensure they are unrelated.
- Take your parakeets to an avian veterinarian to determine if they are in good health and that you do actually have one male and one female parakeet.
- Place the male and female birds in the same cage together.
- Keep the breeding birds in a room that is approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The room should also have good, but not direct, sunlight.
- Feed them an enriched parakeet seed mix with a supplement of pellets. Add fresh pesticide-free greens daily such as dandelion leaves. Small amounts of protein are also beneficial to breeding pairs.
- Refrain from interacting with the breeding birds as much as possible and try to give them privacy. This helps to reduce stress that may hinder breeding.
- Maintain a clean cage including the nesting box. If the female is nesting already, wait until she leaves the cage to remove any damaged eggs. If no breeding has occurred after three to four weeks the pair may not be compatible or the conditions may not be suitable for breeding.