How to Breed Parrot Finches

Parrot finches are small birds with red heads or throats originally from an island off the coast of Australia. They are bubbly, active, friendly and are generally great with other birds. They are semi-nocturnal, so they are the last to fall asleep, but they are also the first to wake up in the morning. When these birds connect, they are always together. They aren't cage-type birds, so they are better off in an aviary. When breeding them, it's recommended to have more females than males to avoid problems.

Things You'll Need

  • Large aviary
  • Insulation or artificial heaters for winter
  • Bushes or brush
  • Food
  • Water
  • Cuttlebone
  • Powder calcium supplement
  • Lighting
  • Cage around 31.5-inches wide, 23-inches long and 20-inches high
  • Wicker basket or plastic nest box
  • Nesting material
  • Marker rings
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide a large aviary, at least 8-feet long and 7-feet wide, to give the birds room to fly. Install Perspex or Polycarb sheets or artificial heaters during the winter to keep the birds warm.

    • 2

      Plant some bushes or brush to give them shelter and places to hide. Provide them with enough greens, commercial food, mealworms and water to survive. If possible, plants seedling grass.

    • 3

      Find birds that are 12 to 18 months old for the best breeding.

    • 4

      Feed the birds egg food, mealworms and greens before breeding to make sure they get the nutrition they need. Provide cuttlebone and sprinkle some calcium supplement in the water to make sure they get enough calcium for egg production.

    • 5

      Give the birds lighting for 16 hours a day and keep the temperature at 78 to 85 degree Fahrenheit to encourage breeding.

    • 6

      Put a male and a female in a cage around 31.5-inches wide, 23-inches long and 20-inches high for a few days to let them get to know each other. Watch the male sing and chase the female. Watch the female fly from one end of the cage to the next. Separate them and start with new birds if the pair doesn't seem comfortable with each other. Comfortable birds will display the behavior described above.

    • 7

      Provide the nesting birds with a nest box that is as high as you can get it. Provide a large wicker basket or a plastic nest box from the pet store. Provide material such as dried pampas grass, coconut fiber or burlap to make a nest out of. Your birds will build a nest after they have gotten to know each other.

    • 8

      Release the birds from the smaller cage into the larger aviary. Placing them in the smaller cage is a way to bond the birds without waiting months or years for them to do it themselves.

    • 9

      Watch the female lay around two to six eggs, one egg a day. Inspect the eggs to eliminate any bad ones because these can break and harm baby birds. The eggs hatch after about 13 or 14 days.

    • 10

      Look in the nest to check the babies' health and see that they are getting enough water. Provide greens or live food such as mealworms to prevent dehydration.

    • 11

      Attach marker rings on the ankle of the birds at 4 weeks old to keep track of them.