Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 11/15/2006

Question
I have budgies, cockatiels and quails all in the same aviary.
1. Does this affect there breeding if they want to do so?
2. What age do budgies, cockatiels and quails normally breed?
3. Also I recently got a female budgie and she goes into the nesting boxes sometimes. Is she pregnant or presenting to the other budgies to show she is ready to mate or just doing it for warmth?
4. What should i give to the quails if they want to breed? should it be a nesting box or just shelter?
Thank you for reading my questions, Hope to see your reply.

Answer
I'm sorry you didn't like my response (your rating was not very good).  I was just being honest!
------------------------------------------
Hi, Haley.  Thanks for posting!

1.  Yes, for the budgies and tiels.  I don't know anything about quail.
2.  You should not allow your budgies to breed until they are at least 1 year old.  Tiels should be at least 18-24 months old.
3.  Birds don't really get "pregnant" in the sense we know.  If she has recently mated with her male mate, then she may be checking out nesting boxes for a suitable one to lay her eggs in.  However, based on what you've stated, she doesn't have a mate?  If not, she might just be checking out the nesting boxes because they are there.  Some birds like to stay in a nesting box at times because of the security a nesting box provides.  

I do not recommend colony breeding any types of parrots...it just doesn't work in most cases.  Breeding pairs should be kept in separate, individual cages.  Also, if you have nesting boxes set up, you'll need to set up twice as many nesting boxes as you have pairs in your aviary/colony set up.  But again, this type situation for breeding usually isn't very successful.

4.  I don't know anything about quail.  

You really need to learn a lot more about parrots and birds in general BEFORE you start breeding your birds.  I can tell from your post that you aren't very knowledgeable.  My website can provide you with at least a starting point:

http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html

Come back with any further questions.

Chrys