Hi. I have some parakeets who have now mated three times and laid eggs over the past 3.5 months. We were hoping that some of the other parakeets would mate but they haven’t done so. If we take the nesting boxes away, will they keep having eggs. Only two eggs have hatched.
Thank you so much for any info that you can provide.
Hi,
Are all of these birds in one cage? If so, that is part of the problem. You should only have one pair per cage when captive-breeding parakeets. Breeding birds are very territorial, and when you try to breed with multiple pairs, it tends to not go well. You also need to control how often they breed. Having 3 clutches in 5 months, is 2 clutches too many. You have to remove the nest box in between each clutch, even if the eggs fail to hatch. Forming and laying eggs is very hard on a hen, and they are not intended to breed over and over. In the wild, breeding season is one time per year. In captivity, they do not get the environmental signals to move on from the breeding territory, so it is your responsibility to take down the nest box and make them rest for at least 6 months.
If these birds are all together, you need to remove the nest boxes. While there may be eggs on the cage floor sometimes, the best thing to do is take the eggs away. This can help prevent territorial fighting. Do not let them use a food bowl or anyplace in the cage for a nest. If you kept the 2 chicks, you must never let them breed with the parents. They do not know any better in captivity and related birds should not be allowed to breed. Sadly most parakeets are already badly inbred. Unless you really want to breed again, do not give them nest boxes or anything they can use as a nest – no birds tents or huts, no coconuts – none of the cute “bird houses” that are sold online. Those are especially not suitable for pet birds. Without breeding in the picture, enjoy your parakeets. There is nothing more entertaining than a cage of parakeets. Give them a lot of toys and several food and water stations. And have fun observing these little treasures.
Thank you for asking Lafeber,
Brenda
