Breeding Parakeets
Breeding Parakeets noisier Parrots has declined. This is partly due to the smaller size of gardens, and the closer proximity of neighbours. Building materials have increased greatly in price and aviaries for the bigger Parrots have become very expensive.
The proximity of neighbours to small gardens is an issue to consider when starting. Some of the smaller Parrots, such as Cockatiels and Sun Conures, have loud voices that will not be appreciated by non-bird keepers.
Grass Parakeets, Bourke’s Parakeets, Budgerigars (in small numbers), Lineolated Parakeets, Kakarikis, Lovebirds and Pyrrhura Conures, such as the Green-cheeked, are perfect for many reasons, including quieter voices and prolificacy.They are hardy, with the exception of some Neophemas which require more sheltered and even slightly heated accommodation in the winter.
If you’re a proud parent to a parakeet (also called a budgie or budgerigar), the thought of being the parent of baby parakeets likely sounds great. However, parakeet breeding is easier for professionals with the facilities and knowledge to support bird families.
Promoting pet bird breeding can be stressful for the pet parent, their parakeets and the babies. If you’re interested in caring for a young bird, it’s better to get one from a qualified, reputable breeder than to try breeding birds yourself.
However, if you have male and female birds in the same enclosure, the arrival of parakeet eggs may be a surprise and a source of stress if you don’t know how to help your pets care for them. Take time to learn about and understand how parakeets mate, how and why to discourage mating and how to support egg development if your birds end up making plans of their own. Check out our Parakeet Care Sheet to learn more about these fascinating and talkative pets.
Parakeet reproduction basics
Parakeets can breed from a very young age. Technically, parakeet mating can begin as early as six months old, when parakeets become sexually mature. Budgies tend to be attracted to other budgies with similar colored feathers, and brightness matters, too—the vibrancy of budgies’ unique plumage can signal that a potential mate is healthy and will likely be a successful breeding partner.
Risks of pet parakeet breeding
While parakeets’ mating rituals, such as regurgitating food to each other, may sound fascinating, pet parents should try to discourage these behaviors before they appear. Breeding isn’t bad for parakeets, but supporting pregnant females, developing eggs and newborn birds at home requires specialized knowledge and may carry various health risks.
The risk of encouraging parakeets to breed starts with having a male and female in the same living space. Even if a pair is of similar size and color and seems ideal for breeding, there’s a chance that they won’t get along. This can lead to fighting and your pets becoming injured—a scenario typically not worth the rewards of breeding.
A pregnant parakeet faces more health complications even when part of a successful mating pair. Pregnant females have unique nutritional needs, which, if not met, can lead to problems like egg binding. This is when an egg becomes stuck inside the female— with potentially fatal consequences. Additionally, baby parakeets can involve a lot of work for the average pet parent. Weaning baby birds typically requires training, and ensuring they don’t become injured in or around the nesting box requires vigilance.
parakeet breeding
Because of all the potential behavioral and health risks when parakeets mate, one of the easiest ways to discourage your pets from breeding is by keeping only birds of the same sex together. While some birds still might not get along, female parakeets are typically more territorial than males.
Parakeets of both sexes can live harmoniously and many pet parents prefer to keep them in the same living space. Keeping them together is okay if they get along well, but you’ll have to monitor them closely for breeding behaviors. If it’s mating season and you house two parakeets of similar age together you may notice them displaying courtship rituals, including the male spreading his wings and showing off his plumage to the female. Males and females also may display different mating chirps if one is trying to attract the other.
Parakeet mating signs include touching beaks, rubbing against each other, grooming each other and generally becoming close to one another, both physically and behaviorally. Sometimes, even things pet parents do may inadvertently encourage or instigate these behaviors. Mirrors and mirrored toys may confuse birds into thinking their reflection is another bird carrying many of the same physical attributes that make them ideal for mating with. Pet parents stroking and petting their parakeet’s bodies can also send mixed signals, as this form of contact mimics how these birds touch each other before mating. Therefore, pet parents should only pet their bird’s head when showing them affection.
Caring for baby parakeets
If your birds mate without your knowledge and you now find parakeet eggs hatching, you can support your birds in caring for their offspring. However, parakeet parents typically do a great job caring for chicks on their own. For the first few weeks after the eggs hatch, your only job will likely be to monitor the babies for signs of illness or developmental issues. Your vet may be able to give you a list of signs to look out for.
Around the time they begin to grow feathers, chicks will start weaning. Ideally, parakeet parents should do the feeding, as their instinctual regurgitation provides the chicks with ideal nutrition. If the parents are not able to feed their chicks, the chicks will need to be fed and weaned by hand. Hand-feeding baby parakeets requires skill and knowledge, so you should consult your veterinarian regarding how to hand-feed. Take a look at our Medium Parakeet Care Sheet to help anticipate your chicks’ needs before your they are grown.