Parakeets are fairly easy to breed in captivity.
Parakeets, also known as budgies or budgerigars, are brightly colored, highly social birds that are easy to keep as pets. Easy to breed, they only require some basic provisions in order to feel comfortable to reproduce. While green and blue parakeets are the most commonly seen in the wild, captive breeding can yield a wide range of colors from yellow and white to purple. Usually laying between four to six eggs at a time, a pair of parakeets can soon produce an entire family.
Instructions
1. Do some genetic research. Before even purchasing a pair of parakeets to breed, think ahead. Some basic knowledge of genetics can give you a background on what you're looking for in a bird, especially if the breeding is being done with the goal of creating some non-traditional colors in the babies. Pet store birds will breed just as easily as those from a breeder, but deciding which direction to go in first is key.
2. Pick out a pair of male and female birds. Parakeet feathers are colored the same no matter what gender they are, but looking at the color of the cere -- the band of skin above their beak -- will give an idea of the gender of the birds. For male birds, the cere is blue. For female birds, it is tan or yellow. This is only on mature birds more than six months old, and is not a foolproof guarantee of the gender of the bird. Breeding birds need to be at least a year old.
3. Introduce the pair to their new home, a cage that should be at least 18 inches high, 20 inches wide and 1 foot deep. Be sure the cage has a nesting box, which should be 8.5 inches tall and 6.5 inches wide and deep. The entrance hole should be an inch and a half in diameter, with a perch outside. Breeding birds should always have a mineral block or cuttlebone in their cage to make sure the female has enough vitamins and minerals to completely form a healthy egg.
4. Establish a pattern and allow the birds time to bond. Only a bonded pair will mate, so it may take some time for the birds to bond. A regular routine, such as feeding in the morning, cleaning the cage afterwards, a snack in the afternoon and 12 hours of quiet darkness through the night will help them get comfortable in a pattern and spend more time with each other.
5. Provide a healthy diet throughout the breeding process. Breeding pairs should be fed a seed mix developed for parakeets as well as organic produce such as greens and carrots. Be sure to wash any produce thoroughly, as any pesticides or bacteria can kill young birds.
6. Keep a close eye on the birds. When the female disappears into the nesting box for hours at a time, it's a sign that she's beginning to make herself comfortable to lay her eggs.
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