How to Breed an English Parakeet

If you have decided to breed your English parakeets, also known as budgies, make certain that both male and female birds are at least one year of age. Once bonded, they may become less friendly with you so be sure you are willing to sacrifice that for chicks. If you still want to breed your English parakeets, the feat is possible with good success rates.

Things You'll Need

  • Male and female English parakeet
  • Wooden nest box
  • Cuttle bone
  • Mineral block
  • Iodine salt spool
  • Soft wood chew
  • Vitamin supplement
  • High protein feed
  • Pine shavings
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Instructions

  1. Bonding Male and Female

    • 1

      Place the male and female parakeets together.

    • 2

      Cover the bottom of the cage with pin shavings.

    • 3

      Add the nest box by either bending the cage bars or cutting them to fit the circular hole of the box.

    • 4

      Add salt spool, mineral block and cuttle bone to cage. Add the soft wood chew to the nest box.

    • 5

      Encourage breeding by feeding the birds the high protein, vitamin-enriched diet and making sure the female has a soft wood bird chew. You must cover the birds for twelve hours, every night.

    • 6

      Check the nest box often. When the hen begins to lay eggs, she will continue laying every other day until she has laid between six and eight eggs.

    Chicks

    • 7

      Clean the cage regularly but do not handle any of the eggs.

    • 8

      Do not interfere with the chicks hatching. Gestation is 17 to 20 days and then a chick will hatch every other day, in the order they were laid.

    • 9

      Provide a plentiful amount of food as the father will feed the mother, who will feed the chicks.

    • 10

      Handle each chick for ten minutes a day if you want them to be tame, but be sure to wait to start handling them until the chick has down feathers. After 5 to 6 weeks of age, they will be weaned.

    • 11

      Enjoy your new clutch!