First time breeding questions

[rtrent2002]

Hello

I purchased a pair of budgies from my local pet store about 3 months ago. I watched them closely for a while before buying them to make sure they interacted well with each other in hopes they would later mate and breed. They have bonded well. He feeds her constantly and is the aggressive leader in the relationship. She is a bit meek but allows him to feed her and she prunes him. They also sit on the perch next to each other when sleeping. I put a breeder box in the cage about a month ago and they both go in and out of the box.

I'm not in a rush for them to breed and want them to do it on their own time, but I have a few questions...

1. Since I bought them from the same store at the same time, is it possible they are siblings? Can I tell from their leg bands? If they are siblings, will this hinder their ability or desire to mate?
2. I've set up a small/mid sized cage with breeder box, cuddle bone, mineral block, and provide them a variety of foods for a healthy diet. They also get daily indirect light and I play water and bird sounds for them often. Anything else I should do?
3. Is it possible they are still too young? Not sure how old most pet store birds are when they are sold. He has a dark blue cere and her cere remains a tannish color.

Perhaps in the spring they will be older and more enticed to breed?

Thanks All.

[rtrent2002]

[nev90]

If you bought them from the same store it is quite possible that they are siblings, even if they are different colours.
If they have leg bands they will have the breeders code as well as a number & the year they were born. Checking these rings will tell you if they came from the same breeder which could mean that they are related. Breeders can be traced through the bird clubs.

[rtrent2002]

Thanks Nev90.

I researched "how to determine age" last night and I think they are different ages. She still has some signs of bands on her head and his are far less noticeable. Plus he has a distinct pupil in his eyes and her eyes are solid black. I'm hoping this means they were born at different times and are likely from another flock or at least parents. I'll try to check and read the bands today.

[Hezz]

For myself, I would wait until I know she is 12 months old at least. Also, my opinion, that cage is too small for them to get any sort of exercise. You can get flight cages with slide up doors to allow nest boxes to be fitted on the outside. That way the nest box doesn't take up half the room of the cage, and also makes for easier checking on the nest box itself. I have one that is 75cm x 45cm x 45cm, just to give you an idea of measurements.

[nev90]

Dec 17, 2016 14:41:08 GMT rtrent2002 said:

I researched "how to determine age" last night and I think they are different ages. She still has some signs of bands on her head and his are far less noticeable. Plus he has a distinct pupil in his eyes and her eyes are solid black. I'm hoping this means they were born at different times and are likely from another flock or at least parents. I'll try to check and read the bands today.

It's hard to tell in that picture but the male looks to be dominant pied and therefor will develop iris rings & the female looks to be recessive pied so she won't get iris rings. They still could be siblings but it is less likely. I agree with Hezz that the cage looks a bit small.

[rtrent2002]

Ok last question. Without knowing the parents of either bird, is it safe to say they will likely have blue babies or could they also have green?

[rtrent2002]

Also, the breeder box is attached to the outside of the cage but I do plan to get a bigger cage soon.

[nev90]

Dec 23, 2016 4:05:02 GMT rtrent2002 said:

Ok last question. Without knowing the parents of either bird, is it safe to say they will likely have blue babies or could they also have green?

Blue is recessive to green so there definitely won't be any green chicks.

[rtrent2002]

So my budgies are at least 12 months old now. Both are bonded well. Plenty of excersize and sunlight. They eat seed, millet daily and have cuttlebones and mineral blocks which they feed from often. The male pretty much stays in condition, feeds and dances and sings to the female constantly. The female eats from the male, preens him and goes in and out of condition. Breeder box has been in for several months and they both go in and out all the time.

Yet still no eggs. Anything else I should be doing? I take them both out of cage daily for about ten minutes for free flight. They don't love it and can't wait to get back in cage.

Should I leave them alone for a few weeks? They have plenty of alone time during the day when no one is home.