BREEDING PAIR - How to make the perfect breeding pair in budgies скачать в хорошем качестве

BREEDING PAIR - How to make the perfect breeding pair in budgies

Budgies aren’t shy when it comes to breeding and the turnaround from mating to chicks is very quick. Buying a pair of budgies is very popular, and minds begin to wonder about breeding from healthy, happy pairs. It is not as easy as simply having a male and a female if your pair does not bond it is game over! Ensuring you also have the correct environment for a pair is imperative. The guide below will show you how to breed budgies, from selecting a pair to breed from, to looking after the chicks once they arrive. Selecting a Pair of Budgies When deciding on a pair of budgies to reed from, you must ensure that they are not related. Breeding budgies that close relatives can result in genetic mutations, resulting in stillborn or deformed chicks. It is best to breed from budgies that are in exceptional health and at least one-year-old. If you have a pair that have already bonded, this is fantastic. You can tell if a male and female have bonded if they preen each other or hold beaks. This will ensure that mating and eggs will come sooner rather than later. If you want to breed a particular colour of budgie it is best to read the information on budgie colour genetics. There has been lots of research into colour mutations in budgies and how to achieve them. However, like anything in the natural world, this is not always guaranteed! Breeding Environment for Your Budgie Once you have a specific pair that you would like to breed from, separate them from the rest of the chatter. This will ensure that no other amorous cocks male budgies get to the hen when she is in the breeding condition. Furthermore, it gives the pair time to bond and mate in private, away from the prying eyes of their aviary mates. Ideally, your budgies need to be alone in a large cage, 24 inches by 16 inches is ideal, with a height of around 18 inches. If you have a pair of budgies who have always lived in a cage of this size, you will just need to make a couple of easy changes. The most important addition to any budgie cage is a nest box on the side of the cage. Often this requires a little DIY; cutting the wire or removing a door so that the entrance hold can be reached. The kind of nesting box you use for your mating pair is completely down to personal preference. As long as it has a hinged lid so that you can check on the eggs and the chicks, it can be of any design. Many budgie breeders use a wood conclave in the base of their nesting boxes. This stops the chicks from getting splayed legs. Owners just place the conclave in the bottom of the box, along with pine shavings. The hen will then arrange this as she deems fit when she is broody. As with any daily budgie care, you must ensure your pair has a cuttlefish, mineral block, and at least two perches. Food and water must be provided as per usual, with the quantity increasing during her broody period, pregnancy, and when the chicks are born. You can give your pair lots of fresh vegetables and specialist pellets during mating. The hen will also benefit from having some softwood to gnaw on, this will help encourage her to breed. Furthermore, budgies naturally breed in the rainy season. You can help get them feeling frisky by frequently spraying them with water. Mating Budgies You may not catch your pair mating, so it is best to keep your eye out for all the right signs. When your hen is ready to breed, her cere .the section at the top of the beak that looks like nostrils. will become thicker and crusted over when she is broody. The big tell-tale sign that mating has been a success is when your female starts nesting. She will happily faff and rearrange the wood chips in the nesting box, preparing the area just how she likes it. Do not be alarmed if you see your hen throwing chippings away out the hole, she simply doesn’t want that much. Once fertilised, you can expect the first egg in roughly 10 days. Your hen will then lay one egg every other day until she had laid them all. Once the first egg has appeared, you female will take to sitting on the nest, so do not worry if you rarely see her. It can be very tempting but keep checking the nest box to an absolute minimum so you do not disturb proceedings. Also, do not touch the eggs. Human hands can carry bacteria that can be absorbed through the delicate eggshell. Around 18 to 23 days after the initial egg is laid, the baby budgies will start to hatch. Looking After Budgie Chicks Even whilst sitting on her eggs, keep an eye on your female. If the cere turns blue on your hen, you need to act immediately as this means she is losing condition and will struggle to feed the chicks. Being unwell can cause your hen to become violent, and it is not unheard of chicks to die or be featherless at the hands of their distressed mother. During this period, the male will feed the hen, who in turn feeds the chicks. Therefore, it is imperative that both your cock and hen are well cared for.