Do I need to upgrade my nesting box?

[darrenandamyse]

I’m worried we won’t have enough space. Is there still time to change? Eggs are just starting to develop. 

Also, I have a pine box but no concave. The top lid only opens, I’m nervous how I will keep it clean. I can’t find descent boxes anywhere online. 

[skysmum]

I wouldn't disturb things now in case she abandons the eggs. Without a concave the eggs may not be incubated properly if they roll out of the way. As you say cleaning will be tricky you will just have to do the best you can when the chicks are old enough.

I would put some more shavings inside because when the chick's hatch they could develop splayed legs with such a flat slippery floor. Good luck with them

[Morgan]

wocal may be able to provide some insight. Perhaps yellowfacedviolet as well? Not sure.

I wouldn’t change anything either just in case - and shavings might help them not to roll around as well during incubation, as well as helping with splayed legs. Just make sure it’s budgie friendly wood shavings. I can’t remember why things like paper towels are not recommended...

[Deleted]

I read somewhere that paper towels don't allow enough grip for the babies' feet.

If you're adding more shavings would it be possible to maybe compress a section of them to make a slight concave?

I have never bred birds so that's just an idea that would need running past one of the members who knows.

[yellowfacedviolet]

Jan 31, 2021 11:02:23 GMT @sillycat84 said:

I read somewhere that paper towels don't allow enough grip for the babies' feet.

Hmm, perhaps there's a difference between the texture of paper toweling available here in the USA and what you have available there. I've used it without incident, but it is very textured, coarse stuff.

That said, I also coarsely sand and distress the floor of my nestboxes to create a rough surface to ensure good footing.

[Morgan]

Are concaves absolutely necessary? I have heard some people swear by them and others bah-humbug them. So I presume it’s whatever makes you more comfortable.

I have also seen someone use a thin square piece of wood with a circle cut out of the middle and placed on the floor of the box to create just a tiny little lip that the eggs can rest inside. That is something that could be added into the box easily enough I think.

Some people say to add lots of shavings even if mom throws them out, while others say her own dropped feathers from her brood patch will be enough to cushion the eggs themselves. Once the babies are hatched though pretty much everyone agrees that some sort of bedding (usually safe wood shavings, and not dusty ones) should be supplied for the babies to grip and not become splayed. Some believe that splay leg is more genetic than environmental too.

And I don’t breed either, have just read a lot about it because I may someday soon(ish).

[wocal]

It looks like you have this breeder box the one I put in the picture below? I have had 2 clutches in these boxes and they work fine. 4 babies is plenty of space in there. they are super small, so it is more room than you think until they get to be about 3-4 weeks, but by then they can access the other side of the box if they want by climbing over the wood that separates the two halves.

The splay legs concern is real though. I would put more shavings since you do not have a concave. paper towels work fine too. maybe towels underneath the shavings. The hen will make her own concave in the in the nesting. So essentially what Skymum said.

It looks clean in the box though. Unless you just cleaned it which means the hen probably poops outside. if she does the clean up is easier for you and when you have hatched babies it is a lot easier to move the babies to clean the box.

If you HAVE to clean the box for whatever reason before the eggs hatch then just get a bowl put some shavings or some ripped up cotton balls then gently grab the eggs out and put them in the bowl for safe keeping while you clean.

I have a long story to answer the switching boxes thing. You can switch boxes whenever you want in my experience. one of the hinges broke on my breeder box midway. I replaced the box with a different shaped box and put new shavings in placed the eggs back in and she went back to sit on them as soon as I left the room. Same thing when they're hatched it is actually easier. I bought a hatched clutch and breeding pair from a breeder who live about a half an hour away from me. I got a microwaveable snuggle pad put it under a amazon box with a hand towel inside and placed them inside. I then took the parents out and put them in a separate cage because they were in a huge flight cage I had to tear down to put in my car. We went a half an hour back to my house. I gave them a new nest box because the one they were in was filthy, put them in a new cage, put the babies in the new box with no problems. That was a few weeks ago and they are still feeding the babies to this day.

And then last thing is here are some links to some breeder boxes I would try/ videos of how to build one yourself. The best thing is to look up a local bird shop and ask if they sell breeder boxes. You coukd also try to get the medium size of this nest box if you are worried about the space inside. Or add a concave yourself, or both.


www.ebay.com/itm/SMALL-PARAKEET-NEST-BOX-LEFT-SIDE-MOUNT/133423174266?hash=item1f10a4127a:g:CNcAAOSwyyZe0CR5





www.petsmart.com/bird/litter-and-nesting/nesting-supplies/-all-living-things-parakeet-nesting-box-2441069.html?lsft=utm_source%3Agoogle%2Cutm_term%3A2441069%2Cutm_medium%3APLA%2Cutm_content%3AGSC%20-%20Medium%20-%20Specialty%20-%20Bird%20-%20LIA%20Only%20%7C%20*Catch%20All%2Cutm_campaign%3AGSC%20-%20Medium%20-%20Specialty%20-%20Bird%20-%20LIA%20Only&utm_id=432%7Cpg1050589923%7C766882881750&utm_source=google&utm_medium=PLA&gclid=Cj0KCQiAx9mABhD0ARIsAEfpavT9XGcKQDZV5O0f7KjZZGWApcugK-NHC5EeT4ysq2mnsoUOK2kw6kEaAjLYEALw_wcB

[Morgan]

I think wocal has given excellent advice from experience, backed by plenty of research and knowledge of how to do such things properly.

In contrast, the lady I got my last budgie from had another pair that would not stop laying. She sold them to someone who said they had experience with budgies and could handle that situation, and wanted to keep the eggs. They took the nestbox with eggs in it and the pair, but the hen threw the eggs out and stopped laying (this would have been her second clutch anyway, so probably best for the health of the hen). It sounded to me like they left the nest box attached to the cage during the drive, rather than separating the parents from the eggs for the trip itself. The hen stopped laying at her new location, presumably from the stress of the move.

Just wanted to share that anecdote to compare what can happen when moving eggs properly vs improperly. It seems to me that you are being very conscious of the comfort of your birds 👍