Parakeets are birds that are very popular among bird lovers. If you like parakeets, you may have thought about breeding them. In the wild, parakeets like to reproduce monogamously, so these birds are easier to breed when paired. Make sure your parakeet partner has a good habitat with a nest box and proper food. Once your bird is used to its cage, you can encourage it to breed and monitor its eggs.
Step
Part 1 of 5: Pairing Parakeets for Breeding
Step 1. Buy birds from a trusted breeder or shop
Look for reviews of breeders or shops that sell parakeets from past customers. Then, check if the birds are kept in a clean and healthy environment. In addition, make sure the number of birds in the cage is not overcrowded and the birds do not appear stressed. Monitor all the birds for sale and make sure they look healthy and active.
- Look for bad signs online that indicate the breeder or shop is not reputable, such as complaints or bad reviews.
- The cost of one parakeet is usually around Rp. 150,000-Rp. 900,000, depending on where you buy the bird.
Step 2. Select 2 unrelated birds to prevent birth defects
Parakeets that are related to each other / one family will breed if the sexes are male and female. However, the offspring, even if they survive, will be disabled and susceptible to disease.
- When buying a parakeet, ask if the two are family.
- Birds bred by different breeders are most likely not the same family.
- In some cases, grandparents parakeets can breed with their grandchildren and produce offspring that are not deformed. However, pairing birds that are not in the same lineage is always the best option.
Step 3. Look for partners who are already together for best results
As long as it's not a family, birds kept in the same cage will breed faster than birds that don't know each other yet. This is because the birds have gotten along so you don't have to wait until they get to know each other.
In some cases, birds can feel comfortable with each other if kept in cages close to each other. Even if the bond isn't strong yet, this situation can be a great first step
Step 4. Select a 1-3 year old female
Waiting until the female is at least 1 year old usually results in a healthy baby parakeet. However, he will be most fertile before reaching the age of 3 years.
If you're not sure how old your parakeet is, take it to an avian veterinarian for evaluation. He will be able to determine the approximate age of the parakeet
Step 5. Choose a 1-6 year old male
Like female parakeets, male parakeets will produce healthier offspring if they are more than 1 year old. However, male parakeets will still continue to produce healthy offspring before they reach 6 years of age.
Your vet can help determine the age of your parakeet if you're unsure, so don't hesitate to ask for help
Step 6. Take the parakeet to the poultry doctor to make sure it is healthy
Make sure you work with a poultry doctor or veterinarian who has experience dealing with poultry because they have skills in caring for parakeets. This can help you breed sick or disabled parakeets. Here are some things that your vet should check to ensure your bird's health:
- Both birds have no color change.
- The two birds do not excrete fluid from their body orifices.
- The ducts of the two birds are not blocked.
- Both birds are not lethargic / weak.
- Both birds eat and poop without a problem.
- The two birds did not vomit.
Step 7. Put the two parakeets into separate cages
Give each parakeet its own cage. This not only makes them feel more comfortable, but also increases their chances of spawning a baby parakeet. This technique was used to mimic behavior in the wild, and to encourage both parakeets to breed.
If the parakeets start fighting, get one of them out. Then, place the cages of the two parakeets next to each other. Watch their behavior, for example playing with each other or dressing through the trellis of the cage. Once you get back on track, you can put the two together in the same cage
Step 8. Notice if the two birds dress or feed each other, which indicates that they are already a couple
When the two birds begin to care for each other, it means they are already bonding well. In most cases, parakeets don't start breeding until they become attached to each other.
You can also see the two playing and sleeping together
Part 2 of 5: Preparing the Habitat
Step 1. Choose a cage with a minimum size of 60 cm x 40 cm x 40 cm
This size allows both birds to fly and be alone. Although both birds feel comfortable with each other, there are times when they need some alone time. The large cage allows both of them to stay active and spend time away from their partner. This improves the bird's health and makes good parents.
Each pair of birds will need their own cage. Do not try to keep several pairs of birds in one cage as they will tend to be reluctant to breed
Step 2. Cover the bottom of the cage with newspaper, if any
Trays at the bottom of the cage can be uncomfortable for parakeets and both need to be comfortable in order to breed. Use newspaper to line the cage as it is cheap and easy to get. What's more, parakeets will love to tear them apart.
Spread two layers of newspaper over the base of the cage
Step 3. Place at least 2 wooden perches and swings in the cage
The number of perches and swings in the cage should be sufficient for both birds to use at the same time. However, birds will love to move between perches and swings, if there is enough room in the cage.
Wood is the best material for perches. Try not to use a plastic perch because it is not good for birds to chew
Step 4. Place a 15 cm x 15 cm x 25 cm nest box in the cage
We recommend choosing a side-opening nest because it is easily accessible to birds safely. This nest box has a hole on one side for the female to enter. The female parakeet will then lay eggs in it, where she can feel safe.
- This nest mimics the way birds prepare for breeding in the wild.
- You can buy nest boxes at pet bird shops or the internet.
Step 5. Place a concave plate in the nest to prevent the eggs from lying flat
Choose a plate 2.5 cm deep and 15 cm in diameter. The eggs will be in the dish, which keeps them in the nest. The baby birds will then hatch in a plate, which provides a nice surface for their feet.
- You can also make or buy a board that fits into the bottom of the nest box. This board should have a hollow in the middle.
- Make sure the plate is made of a non-toxic material, such as wood or glass.
Step 6. Make a thin layer of wood shavings in the nest, including the plate
The wood shavings will provide nesting material for birds similar to the wild. Female birds will also enjoy chewing on wood shavings when ready to breed. In the wild, female parakeets take bark to chew before breeding.
Also put this base material into a concave plate or hole in the bottom of the nest
Step 7. Clean the cage once a week
Empty, wash, and refill the bird's feeding plates and water bottles. Discard the old base and wipe the cage. Replace the base of the cage with new wood shavings, then put the dinner plates and water bottles back into place. Wash and dry all toys stored in the cage.
If there are eggs in the nest box, do not change the nesting material until the eggs hatch. However, you can still change the base material in the cage
Part 3 of 5: Feeding Parakeets
Step 1. Fill a parakeet's large dinner plate with whole grains, seeds, fruit, and vegetables
Choose a granulated food made especially for parakeets and make sure it is always available. Twice a day, give a mixture of seeds, fresh fruit, and vegetables. Always use raw fruit and vegetables cut into small pieces to give to birds. This will keep the parakeet healthy and happy.
- Fruits that are good for parakeets include apples, bananas, blueberries, grapes, guavas, kiwis, mangoes, melons, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, and strawberries.
- Some vegetables that are good for parakeets include broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, cabbage, pumpkin, radishes, spinach, sweet potatoes, ripe tomatoes, and yams.
- Your parakeet will need more food after the cubs are born, so make sure his plate is always full.
Step 2. Place two water bottles in the cage to ensure the parakeet can always drink
Empty and refill water bottles every morning and evening so that clean water is always available to birds. Your parakeet will need to drink more as it breeds. In order not to run out quickly, you should use two bottles of water. Plus, this will reduce the chances of the two parakeets fighting over water.
Place the water bottle on opposite sides of the cage
Step 3. Give plenty of food so that the parent birds don't eat the eggs
Unfortunately, some parakeets will get used to eating their eggs once they have done so. Parakeets that continue to eat their eggs even after being fed a lot will not be good for breeding.
If the parakeet eats eggs, add more food to the cage for the next breeding period. If behavior doesn't change, it's best to find a new pair of parakeets to breed
Step 4. Provide mineral block supplements, cuttlebone, and iodized salt coils in the parakeet's diet
This supplement will add vitamins and minerals that parakeets need to stay healthy, such as calcium. Just put the supplements in the cage and the birds will eat them when they want.
These supplements can be purchased at pet bird shops or the internet
Part 4 of 5: Encouraging Parakeets to Breed
Step 1. Expect the parakeets to breed in October to March or when it rains
Parakeets usually start breeding during October to March, but also after heavy rains. In the wild, their favorite food source is more after the rain, which makes them breed. Parakeets can breed during the rainy season months.
The parakeet is a species native to Australia, where the climate is warm from October to March. If you live in the northern hemisphere, parakeets can breed from April to September
Step 2. Keep the room temperature between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius
This is the perfect temperature for breeding parakeets. You can keep the house air temperature in this range, or use a heater or fan to adjust the temperature of the area around the cage.
Step 3. Cover the cage for 12 hours every night
Parakeets need time to rest so they don't get stressed. Covering the cage also makes the cage dark and comfortable, making it easier for birds to breed. The cage should only be partially closed during the day so that the parakeet still gets sunlight.
Attach and open the cage cover at the same time every day. For example, if you open the cage cover at 6am, put it back on at 6pm
Step 4. Cover the base of the cage with wood shavings for the female parakeet to chew on
This helps the female parakeet's mood to want to breed and nest. Replace dirty wood shavings with new ones every day so the female parakeet always has clean wood to chew on.
This behavior is performed by parakeets in the wild before breeding and you can imitate it to encourage both parakeets to breed
Step 5. Watch the breeding behavior, which will be brief and repetitive
When the male parakeet wants to breed, he will approach the female parakeet while singing. Then, it will tap the female's beak. If a female parakeet wants to breed, she will lower her head and raise her tail so that the male parakeet can balance on it. The two will then have intercourse, which only lasts a short time.
Not all breeds produce eggs so parakeets will repeat this behavior quite often
Step 6. Spray water on the birds to mimic their natural breeding season
Since parakeets breed after rain, spraying water can help build the atmosphere. Spray several times a day for a few days to mimic rain. Hopefully the parakeet pair will breed faster.
Spraying water also helps the bird's feathers look prettier by encouraging parakeet pairs to dress each other up
Step 7. Leave the birds so they can breed
Don't check the bird too often or keep the cage open. Give them time to get comfortable with each other so they will breed.
Make sure the bird is not disturbed by loud noises. Try your best to create a calm and relaxing environment
Part 5 of 5: Monitoring Birds' Eggs and Chicks
Step 1. Wait for 10 days after successfully breeding the first egg
Once the birds have reproduced and the eggs have been fertilized, the female parakeet will start laying eggs after 10 days. It will spawn 1 at a time so you will see one egg appear in the nest box.
Sometimes parakeet pairs reproduce several times before the eggs are fertilized
Step 2. Expect the female parakeet to lay 4-8 eggs after about 2 weeks
After the female parakeet lays the first egg, there will be a gap of 1-2 days before the next egg is released. It will start laying eggs every day until all of them are used up. Normally, the female bird will start laying 4-8 eggs in total.
The female bird will lay eggs in her nest box
Step 3. Make sure the parakeet incubates the eggs after the third egg is released
The female parakeet will not start incubating her eggs until she has at least 2-3 eggs. This means that you will see 1-2 eggs lying dormant in the nest after laying the first one. This is normal and you don't have to worry about the eggs being neglected by the mother for the first few days.
The eggs will only be incubated by the female parakeet. Male parakeets will not enter the nest box
Step 4. Monitor eggs hatch after being incubated for 18-21 days
When the eggs start to hatch, you will see cracks in the egg shell. It will take a while before the eggs hatch, but don't help. If healthy, chicks will emerge from their shells after a few hours.
If there are eggs that do not hatch after 22 days, they should be thrown away. These eggs will most likely not hatch, and even if they do, the babies will not be healthy
Step 5. Make sure the mother bird takes care of her baby
Parakeets usually take good care of their young, but it's a good idea to keep a close eye on them to make sure no babies are neglected. If there are several babies, the mother parakeet can abandon the youngest.
It's a good idea to keep baby parakeets that are abandoned
Tips
- Parakeets can lay 2-3 eggs each year, depending on how often the birds breed.
- Parakeets usually do not enter the nest box. However, usually the male protects the box and feeds the female who is incubating the eggs.
- Baby parakeets can be separated after weaning. Usually this can be done after the baby is 5 weeks old because it can find its own food. Baby parakeets are weaned when they can open their own seeds, fill their caches, and don't go to their parents for food.
