Things You'll Need
- Cage
- Perches
- Cuttlebone
- Mineral block
- Nesting box
- Special diet
- Organic greens
- Syringe or teaspoon
- Hand-feeding diet
Instructions
Breeding
Select a bonded pair, male and female. Budgies need to be comfortable with each other before they breed, so starting with a pair that is already close helps speed the process. A bonded pair grooms each other, sits close together and nests together.
Set up an appropriate cage for breeding. The cage should be at least 24 by 16 by 16 inches, and the floor should be solid rather than grated. Attach a nesting box to the outside of the cage so the birds have access to the box without it taking up too much room in the cage. The nesting box should be filled with pine shavings. Also in the cage, include several perches, fresh water that is always accessible, a mineral block and a cuttlebone.
Introduce the birds to the cage, and give them time to become familiar with their surroundings. Breeding will not be instant, and it may take a while for the birds to become used to their new home as well as the sights and sounds outside the cage.
Establish a regular routine. This can be whatever works for you, but it should include regular times in which the birds are fed, the cage is cleaned and the water is changed. This helps the birds get comfortable.
Feed a diet that is appropriate for breeding birds. Use a base of seed mix approved for budgies, and include some plain, cooked egg. Greens are also necessary to get the parents all the nutrients needed to lay healthy eggs, but be sure that the greens are organic or completely pesticide-free, as these poisons can kill baby birds.
Hand-feeding
Select a recipe for what will be hand-fed to the chicks. A well-rounded diet can include a mixture of apple juice, baby food, sunflower meal, oatmeal and nutrients available at any pet store. There are also prepared diets available that can be a good option if you're not comfortable making your own.
Prepare the food based on the age of the chick. Younger chicks need a more watery consistency, and as the chicks get older more solid food can be included.
Heat the food to body temperature, or about 98 degrees Fahrenheit.
Offer the food with a syringe or on a spoon that has been bent into a U shape. Holding it out to the bird will trigger a reaction similar to that of the bird feeding from its parents. When the chick opens its beak, tilt the spoon or syringe and let the chick feed. In each feeding, the bird should get about 2 ml of food.
Repeat the procedure at regular intervals five times a day for the first three weeks of the chick's life. This can gradually be reduced to a morning feeding and an evening feeding by the time the chick is a month old. By this time, begin offering foods such as baby food to encourage the chick to eat on its own.