Cage cleaning while nesting

[lanah]

After two years of ignoring the nest box one of my budgie pairs have decided to lay a clutch of eggs. Everything seems to be going well, but I'm struggling with a very basic question - how do I clean their cage without disturbing them? The father budgie is very protective of the nest and the cage and the mother does not emerge from it. Do I do a light spot cleaning of the cage floor and hope for the best? Clean at night and hope they sleep through it? Do things as normal and ignore angry screeching coming my way?

[Hezz]

I’m guessing that the hen is sitting on the eggs? Wait until the eggs hatch before cleaning the nest box. Many breeders find it useful to have two concaves so that they can swap one over for the other, moving chicks into the clean one and popping that straight back into the box and cleaning the soiled one at your leisure. In the meantime keep the cage as clean as possible without causing too much grief. Do you have newspaper on the floor of the cage? it is easy enough to remove the top sheet every day to remove and daily droppings and food mess.

[lanah]

Thank you for the answer! The hen is sitting in the nest box, I've been avoiding opening it because of how upset it makes her and dad budgie. I also don't want them to abandon the eggs - a week ago there was 1 in there, not sure about now. The cage itself is lined with newspaper so it's easy to swap out the top layer - I just feel bad doing such a substandard cleaning job for them. They do accept me switching out food and water trays but dad budgie watches me like a hawk. I didn't think they would be quite so protective.

Also, they live in a cage of 3 with another male budgie. Should I separate him out before the chicks hatch?

[Hezz]

I would move him out as a precaution although it is more likely to be another hen that would be the cause of any aggro. What is the other male’s reactions though all this? You know him better than I do; is he showing any interest at all, or is he just ignoring them both?

[lanah]

He was actually very interested, to the point of trying to feed the hen and hanging out around the nest box. He would also follow the hen around when she did come out of the box, kind of like the dad budgie. Dad budgie got sick of him third wheeling and chased him into the cage rafters at some point so now he's staying more separated.

And there are now 2 eggs in the nest box!

[Hezz]

If he is becoming a nuisance, it might be better and safer for all concerned if he is given his own space.