Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 11/23/2007

Question
QUESTION: Good Morning Chrys, I am so frustrated, i have three pairs of budgies that i am trying to breed for over six months now. They are all over a year old and i have them on a mixed good diet. However one pair of the budgies mate. And that's all they do mate and no eggs. They have never layed. Do you know what i can do or just leave them. I am so frustrated and disappointed. I await your reply. Thanks

ANSWER: Hi, Cheryl,

I need more information.  

Are you sure of their sexes?  What type of "mixed good diet" are they on?  Are all these birds in the same cage?  How many nesting boxes are set up if all in the same cage?  If not in the same cage, how are your birds set up?  Do you have any substrate in the nesting box?  Provide as many details as possible so I can try to help.

Chrys

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QUESTION: Good Morning Chrys, i missed you during your abscence. Anyway yes i am sure of the sexes, the male has a blue cere the female is white. Apart from them getting their seeds i also give them vegetables, fruits, oats with raisins, cooked brown rice with mixed vegie, eggs and the list goes on. They are paired in seperate cages and their is nothing in the nest boxes. Their cages are in an out house and they get proper ventilation and adequate sunlight. They will mate but just don't lay eggs. If there is anymore information that you need to know about them i will provide. I await your reply. Thanks Cheryl

ANSWER: Hi again, Cheryl,

It sounds like you have them set up properly.  Be sure their nesting boxes are not too large/too small (they need keet size boxes).  I have a concern about them being in an out house.  If your birds are being disturbed by animals, wild or otherwise (dogs, cats, mice, rats, other rodents, other birds, snakes, etc.), during the day or nighttime, this may be why they are not laying eggs.  If parent birds feel their offspring could be in danger from something around them, they often won't lay eggs.  If their perches are not stable, successful mating may not be taking place.  Something obviously isn't right, but I'm at a loss based on the information you have provided.  There has to be something else going on/not going on.  Since they are outside, I'd guess it has something to do with this, as long as successful mating is occurring.  Even with successful mating, a bird may not lay eggs if they have any fear that their offspring will be in danger.  If you have any additional details you can provide, I'll try to help further.  You mention 1 pair of birds mating, what is happening with the other pairs...are they mating?  Have you actually witnessed mating occurring?

Chrys

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QUESTION: Hi again Chrys, thanks for replying so quickly. I am at a loss too because i have done everything there is to do. They are free from harm and danger. Yes i have witnessed them mating ever so often, their perch is secure and the male seldom fall off. The other budgies are still too young even though they have bonded but i have not given them any boxes. I will visit a pet store over the weekend and buy another box just in case. Maybe i am too anxious but my patience is running out. Thanks for your help it is highly appreciated. Cheryl

Answer
Hi again, Cheryl,

You may not know what goes on in/around the outhouse during the night when you are sleeping!  What you might not consider harmful/threatening can be harmful/threatening to your birds.  You have to look/view things from the bird's perspective.  You may want to try a video camera or similar out in the out house at night to see if you can discover something going on you are not aware of.  In your original post, you state you are trying to breed 3 pairs and they are all over 1 year old.  Now you are saying 2 pairs are under 1 year old and no nesting boxes are up.  I'm confused.  If the male isn't feeding the female beak-to-beak, they are not PAIR bonded and thus, not ready for eggs/babies.  Are you leaving their lights on for 16 hours per day?  If not, you can try this and see if this helps.  If your birds are molting, they won't lay eggs.  Something is not right as budgies are usually very prolific breeders if conditions are right.  Perhaps the pair isn't quite old enough yet.  With parrots, you have to have patience, as they don't always respond in the time frame we want them to respond.  If you could provide more details about how you have them setup, etc., I could try to help further.   

Chrys