Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 4/27/2008

Question
I have four parakeets, and I found an egg on the bottom of the cage tonight. I think I know which two of my parakeets produced it, but I'm not positive. Do I have to separate them into a different cage? I'm going to get a nesting box soon. I don't know how old the female who I think laid the egg is, but I've had her for two and a half years or so. I want to try and go on with the breeding process. Do I have to do anything special with the two (i.e. separate them into another room) or anything?
I am really excited. I don't think the first egg will hatch though because in my excitement I took it out and showed my mom. But from some other things I've read, she'll lay more. I think the egg was laid earlier today because I just noticed it while changing food and water, which I do every night before I go to bed. I think the egg has a little color to it, but I can't tell with the lighting.
Any help would be great! My mom, who has had parakeets her whole life, doesn't really know what to do, so I'm trying to figure all this out.

Answer
Hi, Elizabeth,

If you don't know anything about all of this, do not allow your birds to produce babies until you do.  There are so many things you need to know, and when something goes wrong, you need to know what to do at that time, not after you've had time to learn.  

I have a website that will help you:  www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html.  www.birdchannel.com is also a good website.  Review answers to other bird quetions on this website in order to enhance your knowledge.

Your birds have to be pair-bonded before they will start a family.  Pair-bonded is when the male feeds his female beak-to-beak.  Female birds can lay eggs without mating with a male, but the eggs will not be fertile.  Don't put up a nesting box until you see this pair-bonded behavior.  A pair of breeding birds needs to be in their own breeding cage, separate from other birds (but they don't have to be in separate rooms).  If not, other birds will likely raid their nest of eggs/babies and/or fight with the female.

Chrys