Ask Lafeber

Is Pumpkin Nesting?

Over the weekend, I’ve noticed that Pumpkin has sat down and tried to stick her body inside of an orange food bowl, which isn’t all that weird but I’ve also seen her acting more frantic than normal. She usually sits on the perch almost all day long, only getting up to eat, drink, and occasionally play with the toys. Now she’s all over the place flying up and down and nibbling on the toys a lot more often. She and Pistachio have also been ‘holding beaks’ , AND they have bonded well. I have a ton of other birds in the cage as well and that might be the cause of the frenzy but for the trying to sit in the orange feeder and holding beaks, not sure. At the time of writing this, she is trying to fit herself in it, and she didn’t even fly when the other birds spooked each other and flew around like crazy. If she is nesting, cool! I want to breed her, if not cool! I don’t have to do much more work.

Hi Neko,

I remember your bird’s names, but I can’t remember the species – are these lovebirds or parakeets? It does sound like Pumpkin wants to nest. If she is over 2 years old, then you can think about breeding her. But you have to remove her and her mate and put them in a separate cage. You can’t let birds breed when they are in a group. They will get territorial and start fighting viciously. If you can remind me what species they are, I’ll give you some more advice about breeding them.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda