Encouraging Parakeets to Mate

User Question
I was wondering about breeding parakeets. I have a matured male and a female and they seem to really like each other (grooming,cuddling etc.) I feed them a balanced diet (seed, fruit, veggies, and mineral supplements in their water). I have a cuttlebone too.

And I was wondering how you encourage them to mate? Should you put in a nesting box? I was also wondering if you could discourage them after mating once or twice,(so they don't become too distressed) would you take out the nesting box, or do they mate consistently after the first time for the rest of there life?

Thank you!!

p.s Thank you for the info on your website! I would have never known anything about parakeets without your website!!

Lisa's Answer
I have a page on parakeet breeding here -

http://www.lisashea.com/petinfo/articles/bird_breeding.html

it should be something you seriously research before you start it. Go talk to local breeders. Take courses in animal care if you can, set up an appointment with your vet to check both birds and to have a talk with him/her too. Get a book or two on breeding birds and safety and so on.

Female birds can develop serious problems and die during egg laying. You need to be around pretty much all the time, and know how to handle the emergencies. Remember, having kids is a dangerous task, even for birds. So it's something you need to educate yourself about seriously before you begin.

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