Unexpected Breeding!

[carolec]

I've had my 3 Budgies together in a cage for almost 4 years - they've always got along well with no major hanky panky until last week 2 of them got together and yesterday morning I found an egg on the bottom of the cage. Unfortunately the 3rd party budgie poked a hole in it and we had to throw it out.
I bought a nesting box and she went in it this morning I assume to lay or prepare to lay her 2nd egg.

I have no idea what to do!
Do I separate the mother budgie from the other 2 or separate the 3rd party budgie from the mother father?
I didn't plan on breeding but also don't want to cause any harm or anxiety to any of my babies.

[maryann]

I would separate number 3 right away! That was the one who poked the holes, right? I bred cockatiels and kept breeding pairs separated. I feel it is a must. I think budgie breeders will agree. Please put nesting material on the nest floor. You can get it at the pet shop.

[blue48]

How exciting for you! I hope everything goes well. There are loads of experienced people to help on here.

[Hezz]

You don't have to breed if you don't want to. There are ways to break the hen's laying cycle if you didn't want chicks.

If you are going to let them breed, take out the bird who is not one of the bonded pair. Put nesting material into the concave but don't be surprised if the hen chucks it out. That's okay but make sure there is nesting material in the box once the chicks arrive, regardless of whether the hen removes it or not. It will help stop your chicks from getting splayed legs.

[carolec]

Mar 6, 2020 0:33:09 GMT Hezz said:

You don't have to breed if you don't want to. There are ways to break the hen's laying cycle if you didn't want chicks.

If you are going to let them breed, take out the bird who is not one of the bonded pair. Put nesting material into the concave but don't be surprised if the hen chucks it out. That's okay but make sure there is nesting material in the box once the chicks arrive, regardless of whether the hen removes it or not. It will help stop your chicks from getting splayed legs.

We now have 2 eggs that the hen seems to be caring for however the male continues to hump on her.
How do I break the laying cycle...I really don't want to take on all this responsibility. 
Also - do you think my 3 amigos will ever be good roommates again? 

[Hezz]

Mar 11, 2020 21:49:27 GMT carolec said:

Mar 6, 2020 0:33:09 GMT Hezz said:

You don't have to breed if you don't want to. There are ways to break the hen's laying cycle if you didn't want chicks.

If you are going to let them breed, take out the bird who is not one of the bonded pair. Put nesting material into the concave but don't be surprised if the hen chucks it out. That's okay but make sure there is nesting material in the box once the chicks arrive, regardless of whether the hen removes it or not. It will help stop your chicks from getting splayed legs.

We now have 2 eggs that the hen seems to be caring for however the male continues to hump on her.
How do I break the laying cycle...I really don't want to take on all this responsibility. 
Also - do you think my 3 amigos will ever be good roommates again? 

Possibly, possibly not. Budgies form monogamous relationships and a pair will generally pair for life. But ... the three can often share a cage together and remain friends as long as the pair don't decide to breed again. Most of my budgie life has been with odd numbers and mismatched pairs.

At this stage you need to let the hen lay her clutch, hatch and raise whatever hatches from her clutch but then immediately step in to stop her from starting the breeding cycle all over again. For now, make sure she has plenty of added calcium - both in her food and in her water, if she doesn't touch her cuttlebone or calcium block, also give her access to a small pot of oystershell grit as some seem to prefer this to cuttlebone as a source of calcium.

Ar this stage it would be cruel to take away the eggs and try to break the laying cycle.

[carolec]

OK..so I have 3 chicks..the 1st born, Corona:), hatched on March 27 with 2 more following March 29 and April 2, and 3 left to hatch. Mom and Dad seem to be taking excellent care at this time but at what point, if ever, do I need to start feeding them? Also I feel like I should put clean nesting material in but my husband says leave it be for now.
Thank you everyone for all the advise

[clt80]

Dad feeds mum, mum feeds chicks. You can usually see when they've been fed as you can see it in the crop. Don't try to feed, leave it to mum. The only exception is if she abandons the chicks or if one isn't being fed.

The nest box needs to be kept clean, you'll start to see their droppings, that's when you need to start changing the shavings, when they've all hatch and are growing it will need cleaning daily.

mum may come out the nest for a break and to feed herself, not often but she may, this is the time to change the shavings so you're not disturbing her.

[Hezz]

Yes, as clt80 has stated, leave the parent birds to do the feeding. Only interfer if the parents aren't doing their job. If you don't clean out the nest box of droppings you run the risk of the chicks developing malformed feet and beaks. Make sure you replace nesting material to ensure the chicks don't develop splayed legs as well. When you change the nesting material, check that the chicks' feet are clean of stuck poop. Parent-fed chicks should not have a problem with food stuck in their beaks but worth checking anyway.

[carolec]

My Baby Babies: Corona 20 days; Dixie 18 days; Guinness 14 days; Becks 11 days; and Yuengling 9 days

[tweetiepiesmom]

How sweet! They are going to be such pretty birds.

[tretinker]

Apr 16, 2020 23:59:01 GMT carolec said:

My Baby Babies: Corona 20 days; Dixie 18 days; Guinness 14 days; Becks 11 days; and Yuengling 9 days

carolec how did things go I would love to know those little ones look like a rainbow of colours!