Does a Parakeet Need a Nest to Lay an Egg?

The parakeet family includes numerous small and medium-size species of parrots, including budgerigars and ringnecked parakeets. They are ideal avian pets -- easy to care for and very sociable. Breeding any wild animal in captivity is tricky, but under the right conditions, you can have a successful breeding program with just one pair of birds.

  1. Nests

    • Like all birds, parakeets build nests. In captivity, the best idea is to build or buy a nesting box. This is a simple wooden box with a small entry hole where the parakeets and eggs are shielded from predators. A female parakeet will be disinclined to build a nest and lay eggs if the nesting materials are just placed in the bottom of the cage, because they will be exposed. Attach the nesting box to the cage or place it nearby, but don't introduce it until the pair have bonded and are performing mating rituals.

    Mating Behavior

    • Like other birds, parakeets have a mating ritual to attract other birds. This includes a lot of chirping, feeding each other and dancing on the perch. This dance includes showing off plumage and leads to the male mounting the female before they mate. Once you see this behavior, set up the nesting box.

    Materials

    • The best material to put in the nesting box is unscented wood shavings. This will allow the birds to build a suitable nest and give the female something on which to gnaw. Place the wood shavings in the bottom of the nesting box and let the birds build the nest for themselves.

    Maturity and Season

    • Parakeets' breeding season is commonly between October and March. They can lay up to three clutches of four to eight eggs; they should be stopped from having a third clutch, because the chicks will be weaker than in previous clutches. Breeding parakeets are over 1 year old and should be healthy and strong fliers to produce strong offspring. A parakeet's health is shown by its feathers; clean, bright feathers indicate a well-conditioned bird.

    In the Wild

    • Mating in the wild is not all that different from mating in captivity. The birds build nests most commonly in trees so they are out of the reach of land-based predators, and the breeding season and mating rituals remain the same. In the wild, parakeets breed in groups of several hundred or more. Having two or three mating pairs in captivity will increase the chances of successful breeding.