My budgies won't go inside of nesting box

[markuk]

Hello bird-lovers !

I'm Mark, based in the UK.

I was wondering if anyone could give me an advice to this. I've got a pair of budgies.
Judging their behaviour they're more than ready to mate. Bobbing their heads, flying around each other, kissing, preening, male feeding the female etc.

Two days ago I attached a nesting box to the cage. I ripped some paper and put it in the box, she has a perch to avoid slayed legs, also she has enough light 'coz I put an artificial lighting in the box. The light isn't too strong. Just enough so she can see clearly inside. The box is a sturdy paperbox. Not a wooden one. Hope that's not a deal breaker for her.

Problem is they've been "studying" the box from the outside but they seem to be scared go inside. What should I do ? Should I stick a signpost on the side saying "Listen, it's completely safe, you can go inside and get comfy. Nobody will bite your head off".

Any ideas ?

[skysmum]

Hi Mark and welcome.

First, the box. A wooden box is needed really, a cardboard box will become damp and dirty with droppings, they and the baby's will chew it making it unstable.

Second, remove any lighting from inside a nest box, they prefer it dark and private.

Third, Its not the hen bird that will get splayed legs its the baby's, a proper wooden nesting box will have a removable base inside which has a concave in it, this and wood shavings will prevent the baby's from getting splayed legs.

Are your budgies over a year old?

[markuk]

Yes, they're both old enough. I'm certain. So you're saying wooden box is a must. Okay then .... will work something out. I was hoping I can get away with sturdy cardbox but looks like I can't and no lighting
I read somewhere that lighting isn't just for the female so she can see inside but also for the young so their sight can develop properly.

[skysmum]

Yes a wooden box, it will need to be cleaned on a regular basis once baby's are all hatched, imagine up to 8 baby's pooping in a cardboard box with no means to clean it and keep it dry.

No lighting inside the nest box, a nightlight in the room where they are is essential incase mum cant find her way back into the box should she come out at night.

It takes Budgies quite a while to get used to new things so it could be weeks before she goes into a box and of course they have to be in breeding condition.

Lots of good food, egg food etc for a good month before you start is essential for them.

Read as much as you can about this, its not something to take lightly, lots can go wrong but its a joy when all goes well

[markuk]

Thanks so much for all this information. Finally I got information I needed. As you can guess I never bred budgies before. I didn't think it through how I would go about keeping the box clean inside.

Thanks so much. Can I leave you some like or vote you up or something here Ohh I think I found it

[Hezz]

Have you actually seen your birds mating? Just because they are friends and doing all the friendly things such as preening and feeding, doesn't mean that they will pair up to mate. How sure are you, even, that you have a pair? Even the experts have put two males in together by mistake, at times, much to their embarrassment. A photo would be lovely.

Just to add, also, that their cage needs to be of a decent size, as this will be their only space once/if breeding starts. The concave in the wooden nest box should be able to be removed for cleaning. Most people will have two concaves so they can remove one, check that the chicks are doing fine and pop the second concave into the box and return the chicks to the box. With two concaves, the chicks don't have to be out of the nest box for very long at all, and you get a chance to give the soiled concave a good scrub and dry out before it is needed again.