How NOT to breed budgies

[LiaraTivona]

Question: I have two parakeets of different ages that I would like to be companions in the same cage. I think the older one is female and the younger is male. Is there a way to ensure that they do not breed, for the safety of the female?

Hi everyone!

I've been reading quite a few of your posts and they've been very helpful, thank you.

I especially like the May 2010 topic suggesting why a teenager should not breed. I'm going to have a lot of free time when I move to another state with my fiance this autumn, but I can see that I would much rather spend my time training than hand-raising. The only thing that made me even consider breeding was that I would really love a hand-raised bird I can scratch and play with. Then again, the parakeet I had when I was little allowed that, and I'm sure my parents didn't go to a breeder. Still, it is a shame parakeets aren't hand-raised, when they deserve just as much love as larger birds.

So... following Lisa Shea's advice, I suggested to my fiance that he get a parakeet to be my "step-child" before bringing mine down. We allowed 2-3 months of isolation; he just brought my parakeet down. I will be traveling for academic research so I won't be there until late August.

Aside from being a way for my fiance to not feel like an outsider or wicked stepfather, we decided to get a second bird because we do not have endless time to be home with the birds, especially once I begin my Ph.D. We want them to be bonded to us, but also to have each other for companionship. To this end, my fiance is keeping them separate until he can get Momo (his parakeet) to love and trust him (maybe 6 months or so?).

My biggest fear is that when we put them into the same cage they will breed, causing complications and danger for Tika. I am tokophobic when it comes to human birth, never mind bird "birth," which I know so little about. My first step will be to take them to an avian vet to check sex, ensure proper diet, and ask advice, but I am not sure how soon I will be able to since we are still paying off human medical bills.

I also read that even the presence of a male bird can cause a female to exhibit egg-laying behavior (of course, infertile), complete with complications. So far I have focused on not letting them bond even from afar, and reversing all the "how to breed" directions such as by not providing a nesting box or anything similar. I did want to give her a little parakeet tent, though, since she seemed to like a similar form of comfort for sleeping that I recently had in her cage. To what extremes do I need to go to ensure she does not suffer from fertility problems?

Edit: Also, (aside from the severe cost to my living space) would it be cruel to the birds to keep them in separate cages except for when they are being watched? This might enhance human bonding and potentially prevent breeding circumstances.

[Kim S]

I have been breeding budgies for several years but this is the first time advising someone on how NOt to breed

Usually budgies will not breed if you dont give them the occasion. By that I mean dont give them an opportunity to nest. No sleepingtent, no coconuts, no hamsterballs, no dark holes they can crawl into.
If you dont give them the opportunity, they wont breed. Usually. Unfortunately there are always exeptions. But females can lay eggs even without having known a male budgie ever. But these cases are pretty rare.

If the bird does lay eggs there are several things you can do to prevent having chicks.
- replacing the originals eggs with fake ones
- shaking the eggs (not foolproof)
- puncturing the eggs with a needle (not foolproof)
Whatever you do. Dont take away the eggs. She will just keep on laying them and depleting herself in the process.

[LiaraTivona]

Thank you Kim!

I learned a few of those things from sites about breeding, but I'm glad to hear that they shouldn't breed if I follow those guidelines. Another site said they will breed no matter what, so I am a little worried about who to trust.

I'm not too concerned about not giving a sleeping tent even though she really liked the similar thing before. If she's anything like humans, another being will be way nicer than the equivalent of a body pillow. I just have to remember not to giver her cut paper towel tubes, even if I can persuade her to not be afraid of them.

I'll also make sure to improve her diet before letting them stay together, so that if she does make eggs they won't be bound.

The good news is that they really seem to like each other. They are calling each other from afar, and my fiance accidentally let Momo fly onto her cage and they were talking happily. I was afraid my older female would not want a little upstart around, but I hope once the quarantine and slow meet-and-greet phases are over they will really enjoy each other's company (and still want something to do with their "parents")

[Kim S]

The nice thing about budgies is that they aren't that particular about who they bond with. They just about bond with anything that moves. I posted in another topic that 99% of the budgies I know can be put together without any problems. But it is always a good thing to introduce them slowly.

I have to agree on some lever with the 'will breed no matter what' statement. Budgies will breed if they can. I know people who breed them during the winter in an unheated garage (about 0 fahrenheit) and they breed perfectly well.
A lot of birds refuse to breed when the temperature isn't right, or the lighting is off, or the food isn't good enough. But budgies will breed under any condition. Ofcourse that does not mean you should, but you get the point.

[LiaraTivona]

Hah, stop making it sound easy, you make me want to do it. I would really love to hand-raise budgies, just like I would really love to raise a puppy for Guiding Eyes, but I really have to think about the time it requires.

Sadly, going into a Ph.D., my spare time will only decrease from here.

[Kim S]

To make it less fun. There are things that can go wrong.
I´ve had a mom who thought it was a good idea to start a new nest while the first ones were only 2 weeks old. She killed all the young and layd a new clutch of eggs on top of them

[LiaraTivona]

Yeah... I was also thinking if I bred I want a bird from a breeder so I know that her young life was relatively natural and not "Fish Mart" style (which sadly is the origin of apparently all the pet shop birds here. I'm sure they know a WHOLE lot about bird care and needs.)

But, if I had a bird from a breeder, I would already have a bird that is socialized the way I want to socialize my bird. I just want more parakeet breeders and less pet store buyers, that's all!

I was also thinking that maybe when I have more time (when I'm 86?) I could look into getting another type of bird, maybe a Caique or something, that exhibits the behavior patterns I'm looking for on a more regular basis.

For now, I will just keep working with Tika and hoping that introducing another parakeet doesn't make her forget all about me.

[Kim S]

I wouldn´t wait till youre 84 to get a parrot, they grow old! But once youve had a couple of years with your budgies you could definately move up a notch on the parrotscale

I think its very good how thoughtfull you are making this decision

[LiaraTivona]

Thanks, I try to think critically about my decisions. That's what college has taught me.

I have had a parakeet since I was 2, and Tika for 7 years. How many years does it take to "level" in this bird game?

Also, I'm debating whether or not parrots are tiered as bird experts place them. I mean, obviously they are not biologically. As to behavior, I have trouble finding a bird to compete with parakeets. But maybe I should post about that in the species forum.

[Kim S]

There is a whole discussion going on about wether or not an agrican grey is an acceptible beginnersbird. You should read up on that topic. It's not just about greys.