Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 3/2/2008

Question
Hello:  I've had two pairs of female/male budgies.  They finally mated.  The one set layed three eggs, two ok one empty.  Then the one bird had gotten tangled in the nesting stuff and died.  The other one had the seed in a pouch that was outside of the neck, therefore wasn't getting fed.  That one eventually died.  I now know that because my female "Puffpuff" has a problem with her food going down correctly, that's what happened with the baby, like a genetic thing.  Now, I've taken the nesting box out of Puffpuff's cage and her and "Sweet Pea" (yes, he's a male) are still trying to mate.  I get a little disturbed because they continue to mate, but now I know that that's what they do.  Can you please tell me how to stop them from mating, other than taking the box out of the cage?  I don't want them to have any more babies because of the medical situation that happened with the others.  I just wanted to avoid any bad feelings they might get in starting to raise the birds then having them die.  Puffpuff is always moving her neck up and down, sort of like Sea Gulls do when they get a big fish.  I hope there is something you can recommend I do because this is not only stressful on me, but on them too.  Thank you.

Answer
Hi, Juli,

You should not be using nesting material with your budgies.  They don't need it and most don't want it either.

Did you take your birds to a certified avian vet?  You do know that birds have a crop that is like a pouch that, on babies, sticks out in front when it is full.  

If you don't want your birds to mate, then you need to remove the nesting box.  A nesting box is a cue for your birds to go to nest.  You need to ensure there is nothing that resembles a nest or anything that your birds can make a nest out of in their cage.  Reduce their available light to 10-12 hours per day or 8-10 if necessary.  If the above doesn't stop them, then you will need to separate them or a certified avian vet can give the female a hormone injection to stop her from laying for about 9 months or so (differs between birds).  Since there is a medical reason for them not to breed, you should probably separate them because where there is a will, there is a way!  Budgies will lay their eggs on the cage bottom if they are desperate.  

When birds move their necks up and down like you describe, it could be that a seed hull or some other food (or a little feather or other) is stuck in their throats and this is how they dislodge these items.  If this is the bird with the medical problem, this behavior may be the result of this medical problem.

Chrys