How to Breed a Mustache Parakeet

The mustache parakeet is a beautiful bird with black markings on the sides of its face that resemble a moustache. The mustache parakeet (also known as the bearded or banded parakeet) is native to Indonesia. Playful and intelligent, these medium-sized parakeets are popular with pet bird owners. Mustache parakeets are hardy birds that you can breed quite easily in captivity.

Things You'll Need

  • Sexually mature male and female mustache parakeets
  • Nesting box or hollow log
  • Diced figs, apples, avocados and other orchard fruits
  • Sprouted sunflower seeds
  • Soaked or sprouted chickpeas
  • Chopped celery
  • Raw or boiled corn
  • Nuts
  • Berries
  • Cereals such as cooked beans, brown rice and whole wheat bread
  • Wheatgrass or spirulina
  • Liquid calcium
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select a pair of sexually mature male and female mustache parakeets to breed. Mustache parakeets attain sexual maturity at two years of age. Distinguish male parakeets from female parakeets by the color of their beaks. Male parakeets have red beaks, while female parakeets have black beaks.

    • 2

      Purchase a medium-sized, 12-inch by 10-inch nesting box for the breeding pair. You can also provide a thick-walled hollow log instead of a nesting box for the nesting mustache parakeet hen to lay her eggs in.

    • 3

      Place the male and female mustache parakeets together in a cage along with the nesting box. Observe the breeding pair for signs of mating. When the female begs the male parakeet to feed her, it is a sign that she is ready to mate. The breeding hen will lay about four eggs that she will incubate for 22 days.

    • 4

      Feed the breeding birds a nutritionally balanced diet. Blend dried fruits, fresh fruits and vegetables, and pellet food into the mustache parakeet pair's regular diet. Offer small pieces of diced figs, apples, avocados and other orchard fruits as treats. Feed sprouted sunflower seeds, soaked or sprouted chickpeas, chopped celery, raw or boiled corn, nuts, berries, seeds and cereals such as cooked beans, brown rice and whole wheat bread.

    • 5

      Add food supplements to the birds' diet. Coat their food with ½-teaspoon of wheatgrass or spirulina before serving. These green foods enhance the birds' fertility. In addition, combine ½-teaspoon of liquid calcium with the hen's food before feeding. Calcium is a vital supplement that aids the female in the egg-laying process.