Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 7/15/2007

Question
Hi there.  I have 2 budgies (male and female) and they have just recently started breeding.  The female now has one egg and she spends almost her entire day in the nest box.  The male feeds her and she comes out to stretch and poop.  Everything seems to be going great, but I have a few questions.
Although the two of them have already mated on a few occasions prior to the egg being layed, they are still mating.  Is this normal??
Also, the female has recently begun allowing the male to enter the box during the day for short periods of time.  Is this supposed to happen? (he's still feeding her)
Do you think we should keep the cage door open or closed?
(they're used to being out pretty much all day long, before they began breeding.)

Answer
Hi, Alassandro.

Yes, multiple mating is normal.  The more times your birds mate, the better chances of producing fertile eggs.  Some male keets avoid the nesting box completely, some go in/out occasionally, some never go in.  Depends on the individual bird(s).  If you leave the cage door open and the male goes in/out and still tends to his mate properly, then it's OK.  The female shouldn't be going in/out once incubation of the eggs begins.  If the male or female doesn't tend to its "job" while breeding, then you'll need to shut the cage door as a way to force them to do what they are supposed to do.

Chrys