The thought may not have crossed your mind that you could breed your parakeet but you can! Parakeet breeding is an easy and fun experience that anyone with a parakeet can take part in. It isn’t too time consuming and can be achieved by reading some simple steps to take when wishing to breed the parakeets. Some people will breed the parakeets for show birds, while others may wish to supply their local pet store with baby parakeets! There are a number of options when it comes to what to do with your parakeets after you breed them. Here is a great informational guides to getting you started with Parakeet breeding.
Breeding in the Wild: Parakeets in the wild breed at various times throughout the year. There is a huge difference between the north and south areas of Australia in terms of when the parakeets will breed. June to September is breeding time in the north while the south is August and January. This difference might be attributed to the difference in climate but it is unknown if that is the real reason.
Parakeets are known to be a bit of a colony of nesters. This means that while the parakeets in the wild are close together they usually have their own separate nests. These nests are usually small secluded areas that can be fences, trees or other sheltered areas where it is safe to lay their eggs. The characteristics to their wild roots are important because when breeding parakeets at home we want to recreate that environment for them.
Parakeet Breeding Supplies: Very few supplies are required when starting to breed parakeets. The list includes:
Breeding Cage
Nesting Box
Bedding (usually some form of untreated cedar or wood)
The breeding cage should be filled with toys and entertainment so they don’t get bored. A bored parakeet will not breed. It is also essential to make sure that the parakeet’s diet is filled with greens and vitamins so that they remain healthy. Adding a cuddlebone or mineral block will help add essential vitamins to the bird’s diet. It is believed that the diet is the key to having a successful breeding section.
The nesting box will need to be placed close to the breeding cage. This will allow the parakeets to make it a small secluded area and feel safe laying their eggs within in.
Choosing a Mate: If you are feeding your parakeets well and they are not breeding it could be a mate problem. Most mating problems are usually genetic and there isn’t much that can be done about that.
To ensure that the parakeets are healthy and able to mate check out the Healthy Parakeet page and make sure that they are all healthy and happy. If you really want to breed a particular parakeet and you seem to be having problems a vet can help answer any problems and make sure that breeding is possible.
Parakeet breeding can actually become a bit of a hobby over time. It is a quick, fairly inexpensive hobby that can turn a bit of profit if you wish it to. Remember if you start breeding so much that you have more then a dozen parakeets it’s a good idea to keep a log so that you are familiar with ages, sexes and health problems. Breeding can be fun and over time you may wish to deviate from this guide and try your own suggestions to see what works best for you and your breeding parakeets!
