Ask Lafeber

Budgie breeding

I have six pair of budgies all in separate breeding cages 2pair are breeding (on their second batch) others haven’t even laid an egg breed lots when I was younger don’t know what’s doing

Hi Mark,

Not all pairs will be good breeders. And some birds are not compatible as mates. They may get along OK, but unless you have seen them mating, they may not have a mate bond. As for the other pairs, it is important to remove the nest box after each clutch, and rest the pair for 6 months. You should not let them have clutches back to back without a rest. It’s too hard on the hen. In the wild they only breed once a year, and then the season changes, signaling the end of breeding season. In captivity it is the owner’s responsibility to rest a pair. So if they didn’t rest after the first clutch, please be sure and rest them once these current clutches are done. Take down the nest box as soon as the chicks leave it, so they parents won’t nest again right away. Having one pair per cage is perfect! You are doing a great job, but sometimes you can do everything right and a pair still never produces eggs or chicks.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda