Parakeet Breeding Behavior

Parakeets make enjoyable pets. If you have a male and a female parakeet at home and you want more parakeets for yourself, as gifts or to sell, breeding can be cheaper and more rewarding than purchasing from a pet shop. Breeding parakeets is simple and fulfilling, especially watching them spawn, develop and grow. To have better chances of successfully breeding parakeets, you need to know their normal breeding behavior and environment.

  1. Partner

    • Select a male and a female partner that are at least one year old. Parakeets are more likely to breed with a partner that they already know. It is important that the parakeets spend time and bond with each other to speed up the process of laying eggs. Parakeets are not monogamous; they do not breed for life with the same partner.

    Environment and Timing

    • The size of the cage is important for parakeets to feel comfortable breeding. It must be at least 24 by 16 by 16 inches. Parakeets prefer a wooden nest box outside of the cage and pine shavings lining the bottom for the female parakeet. Parakeets thrive at temperatures of 70-80 F. The temperature of the cage location must not be too cold because the parakeets will get sick. In the United States, breeding season is from March to October.

    Courting

    • Parakeets are more likely to breed when in the same cage as two or three other pairs because they stimulate one another to breed. The male will pick through feathers on the female's back with his beak, feed her and dance, bobbing his head up and down swiftly. Parakeets often dance to express happiness, and even do it to music while singing.

    Care

    • Parakeets must have a solid and consistent diet while breeding. This diet includes a variety of parakeet seed mix, supplement pellets, powdered vitamin supplements and organic greens provided fresh daily. Change the water daily. Keep the cage clean while refraining from interfering too much with the parakeets.