Birds--General/budgies

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Expert: - 11/29/2011


Question
We have 2,  three year old parakeets.  We put a log toy in their cage and one of the birds carved it out and laid eggs. We thought they were two males.  (Wrong)  There are three eggs.  One hatched today.  We are wondering what to feed the parents.  They have always had seed.  Should we do anything to warm the cage?  What can we do to help them parent these birds?  Should we get special food, special cage?  Transfer them at some point to a nest box?

Answer
I would augment their diet with Budgie pellets from your local pet shop, plus some fruits and vegetables - oranges, apples, broccoli (whatever they will take). Add some nesting material or shredded paper. Other than that, no need to warm the cage or do anything else. Just let them do what they want to do. Just be happy grandparents.
(P.S. Sometimes two females lay eggs, so don't be disappointed if the eggs do not hatch.)

Birds--General

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all questions about WILD birds - not caged, domestic or poultry. Can answer questions about identification, taxonomy, behavior, courtship, plumage, flight, or anything else.

Experience

Taught ornithology (the study of birds) at the university level for 30 years. Have written five books on birds, published 30 scientific articles, write a blog on birds, have the website www.ornithology.com, lectured to hundreds of groups on birds,and have traveled to 90 countries studying birds.

Organizations
A variety of ornithological and conservation organizations.

Publications
Real Simple Magazine, Enterprise-Record, and several ornithological and ecological journals.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology with emphasis in ornithology.

Awards and Honors
Professional Achievement Award, Jack Rawlins Chair of Environmental Literach.

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