Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 1/26/2008

Question
Hi chris, My name is David and i have a cople of questions. First, if my budgies dont need any material in there nesting box, then when they lay eggs, wont the eggs roll around all over the nesting box? Second, how do you know how old your budgies are? Third my female budgie has a pink cere but there is a little bit of blue on it, that still means she is a female right? Fourth what are the steps to breeding your budgies because my budgies are pairbonding alot now and I want to know the next step.
Thats all my questions, Bi sincerely David  

Answer
Hi, David,

1.  Most nesting boxes have a rounded out area in the bottom of the nesting box where the eggs will sit once laid.  Even if there is no rounded out area, when the female incubates the eggs, she will do a fine job of keeping the eggs together and under her.  

2.  Unless the birds wear leg bands with identifying data or they are very young, you won't be able to determine their ages.  The best you can do is go back to the place/person where you bought them and ask the question.  Even experienced budgie breeders and avian vets cannot determine age with any accuracy without leg bands or the signs that come with birds that are very young.

3.  Not necessarily.  How old is this bird?  The budgie with a pink cere could be male or female.  You'll have to judge based on this bird's behavior in general, his/her behavior around other birds, etc.  If this bird lays an egg, then you'll know for sure!  You can have this bird DNA sexed to be sure...visit Avian Biotech or Zoogen Labs on the internet.  

4.  David, if you don't know much about all of this, don't allow your birds to breed yet.  There is so very much you need to know.  And once you get into this with your birds, you need to know what to do when things happen and not be trying to search for answers at that time.  I'm not saying you need to know everything, but based on the questions you've asked in your post, there are many basics you aren't familiar with.  Visit my website:  www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html.  www.birdchannel.com is also a good website.  

Pair-bonding is when a male feeds his female beak-to-beak.  Until this occurs, a pair of birds are not ready to think about mating.  Once the birds are pair-bonded, you can set up a nesting box.  The birds will take it from there.  Again, do not allow your birds to mate and don't set up a nesting box until you become a bit more familiar with budgies in general and the breeding, raising of offspring, etc.

Chrys