Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 6/24/2007

Question
I have a parakeet that has a play house in her cage.  The house is WAY to small for a breeding box.  Unexpectedly she has laid four eggs and three of the four has hatch.  I have bought a breeding box for her and I put it into the cage, it's been in there for a week now so they would get used to it.  Now I want to move mom and babies into there new box.  How can I do it so mom wont become to upset and abandon the babies??  The box they are in now is only 2" wide and about 6" long.  I do need to move them right??    wanting the best for my mom and babies.     Lisa

Answer
Hi, Lisa,

I wouldn't recommend moving them as mom may abandon them if you do.  Yes, they will need more room as the babies grow, so perhaps you should wait to try and move them when the babies are older and they are more used to the bigger nesting box.  However, be aware mom may even abandon them if you move them later.  Is dad or mom going in/out of the breeding box at all?  If not, don't move them.  They may do fine in the 2x6" long box, even though it is really too small.

Chrys