Buzz
Lovebirds, also known as long-tailed parrots, are charming birds popular among pet bird enthusiasts. If you're fond of this species, you can certainly care for them to encourage breeding. In the wild, lovebirds typically form pairs for reproduction, so to successfully breed them, the first step is to pair them together. Next, ensure they have a suitable living environment, a proper nesting place, and appropriate food. Once the birds become accustomed to their cage, you can encourage mating and wait for them to lay eggs.
Steps
Pairing the Birds for Mating
Buy Birds from a Reputable Breeder or Pet Store. Research reviews from previous customers and inspect the birds to ensure they are raised in a clean, healthy environment. Make sure the birds aren’t overcrowded and show no signs of stress. Observe the birds being sold to check for vitality and agility.
- It's advisable to research online, read comments, and reviews to see if the seller has had any complaints or negative feedback.
- Lovebirds typically cost between 200,000 - 400,000 VND each, but prices vary depending on the seller.
Choose a pair of birds without any close blood relation to prevent birth defects in the offspring. Male and female lovebirds from the same bloodline will mate with each other. However, the offspring they produce are likely to have difficulty surviving, and if they do, they are often deformed or weak.
- When purchasing lovebirds, be sure to ask the seller if they are inbred.
- Lovebirds bred in different places are usually not inbred.
- Sometimes, birds from different generations (grandparents and grandchildren) can mate without significantly affecting the next generation. However, it's best to pair birds that are unrelated.
Choose pairs of birds that are already familiar with each other for better breeding success. As long as they are not inbred, lovebirds housed together in the same cage will usually pair faster than those that are unfamiliar with each other. This is because they have already gotten accustomed to one another, so you won’t have to wait for them to get to know each other when bringing them home.
- Sometimes, they may even be more comfortable with each other if housed in adjacent cages. Although not as intimate as living in the same cage, this arrangement still helps with pairing.
Select female lovebirds between the ages of 1-3 years. Waiting until the female is at least 1 year old before pairing will ensure the healthiest offspring. However, female lovebirds are most fertile before they reach 3 years of age.
- If you're unsure about the bird's age, you can take it to an avian vet for an estimation.
Select male lovebirds between the ages of 1-6 years. Like females, male lovebirds produce the healthiest offspring when they are at least 1 year old. However, unlike females, males can continue to produce healthy chicks until they are 6 years old.
- If you're unsure about the bird's age, an avian vet can assist in determining it.
Take the birds to an avian vet for a health check-up. Be sure to choose a reputable, experienced avian vet, especially one familiar with the care of lovebirds. They will help determine whether the birds have any health issues or deformities. The vet may check the following characteristics to ensure the birds are healthy:
- The bird's plumage is not dull or pale.
- No discharge from the cloaca.
- No blockage in the cloaca.
- The bird is not lethargic.
- The bird is eating and excreting normally.
- The bird is not vomiting.
House the birds in the same cage. You need to house the pair of birds you want to mate in a separate cage to give them space and make it easier for them to pair up. The birds will mimic behaviors they would have in the wild and develop mating instincts.
- If they start fighting, remove one bird and place it in a different cage next to the other. Observe if they start bonding, such as playing together or preening each other through the bars. Once they are comfortable with each other, you can place them in the same cage.
Observe the birds preening and feeding each other; this indicates they have paired. When the birds start grooming each other, it means they have formed a bond. If they do not pair up, they will not mate.
- You may also notice them playing together and sleeping next to each other.
Prepare an appropriate living environment
Choose a cage that measures at least 60cm x 40cm x 40cm. This ensures that the birds have enough space to fly and also have a private area. While the birds enjoy spending time together, they also need time alone. A spacious cage will allow them to move freely and have personal space. This is crucial for their health and ensures they will produce healthy offspring.
- Each pair of birds should be housed in a separate cage. If you try to house them together with other pairs, they are unlikely to mate.
Line the cage with newspaper if available. The floor of the cage might make the birds uncomfortable, as they need a warm space for mating. You can use old newspaper to line the bottom of the cage. Newspaper is inexpensive, and the birds can tear it for entertainment.
- Lay down a few layers of newspaper at the bottom of the cage.
Place two or more wooden branches and swings in the cage. You should provide enough perches and swings for the two birds to enjoy together. However, if the cage is spacious, you can add more.
- Wooden branches are the best choice for perches. Avoid plastic branches as birds tend to peck at everything inside the cage.
Hang a nesting box measuring 15cm x 15cm x 25cm on the side of the cage. The nesting box should have an entrance hole for the female bird to enter and lay eggs. The eggs will be safely protected inside.
- This nesting box is similar to the natural nests that birds use in the wild.
- You can buy a nesting box at a pet store or online.
Place a shallow dish inside the nesting box to prevent the eggs from rolling out. Choose a dish with a depth of about 2.5cm and a diameter of around 15cm. The eggs will fit comfortably in the dish and will not fall out of the basket. When the chicks hatch, the dish's surface will also help them move around more easily.
- You can also make or buy a piece of cardboard to fit the bottom of the nesting box. Be sure to choose one that has a shallow center.
- Pick a dish made from non-toxic materials, such as wood or glass.
Sprinkle some wood shavings in the dish and the bottom of the nest. Wood shavings are similar to the materials birds use in the wild for nest building. The female bird also enjoys pecking at the shavings when preparing for mating. In the wild, female birds often choose pieces of bark to peck at before breeding.
- Make sure to spread the wood shavings on the shallow dish inside the nest.
Clean the birdcage once a week. Remove any leftover food and water, wash the food and water containers, and replace them with fresh food and clean water. Remove the old cage lining and clean the cage thoroughly. Replace the cage lining and place the food and water containers back in their original positions. Clean and dry any toys in the cage.
- If the birds have laid eggs, avoid changing the nesting material until all the eggs have hatched. However, you can still change the cage lining outside the nesting area.
Feeding budgerigar parrots during breeding season
Provide bird food, seeds, fruits, and vegetables in the bird's feeding tray. Choose a specific pellet food designed for budgerigar parrots and always make sure they have food available. Feed them a mix of seeds, fresh fruits, and vegetables twice a day. It's best to cut the fruits and vegetables into small pieces so the parrots remain happy and healthy.
- Budgerigar parrots enjoy fruits such as: dates, bananas, blueberries, grapes, guava, kiwi, mango, watermelon, orange, papaya, peach, pear, pineapple, and strawberries.
- They also love vegetables like: broccoli, asparagus, brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, kale, pumpkin, radish, spinach, zucchini, sweet potato, ripe tomatoes, and yam.
- Budgerigar parrots require more food when they have chicks, so make sure to feed them regularly.
Hang two water bowls in the cage to ensure your birds have enough drinking water. Change their water twice a day, in the morning and evening, to keep it fresh. During the breeding period, they will need more water. To prevent them from running out, it's best to have two water containers in the cage, so they don't fight over it.
- Place the water bowls in separate spots within the cage.
Feed your birds plenty of food to prevent them from eating their own eggs. Most budgerigar parrots won't eat their eggs, but if food is insufficient, they may start doing so. Once they eat their eggs once, they might continue the behavior. If you’ve increased their food and they still eat their eggs, they may not be suitable for breeding.
- If your birds eat their eggs, provide more food during the next breeding season. If the behavior continues, it's best to replace them with another pair of parrots.
Provide mineral stones, cuttlefish bone, and salt licks for the birds. These supplements help provide essential vitamins and minerals like calcium to keep your parrots healthy. Simply place them in the cage, and the birds will consume them as needed.
- You can buy these supplements at pet stores or online.
Encouraging Parrot Mating
Budgerigar parrots typically mate from October to March or after heavy rainfall. Usually, the breeding season for budgerigar parrots starts in October and lasts until March, but they may also mate following heavy rainstorms. In the wild, their preferred food source becomes more abundant after rain, prompting them to mate and reproduce. They can mate at any time of the year if there’s enough rainfall.
- Budgerigar parrots originate from Australia, where the weather is warm from October to March. If you live in the northern hemisphere, your pet parrots may breed from April to September instead.
Maintain a room temperature between 18-24 °C. This is the ideal temperature range for encouraging mating and breeding in budgerigar parrots. You can keep the air temperature in your home within this range or use a heater or fan to adjust the temperature around the birdcage.
Cover the birdcage for about 12 hours each night. Parrots need rest to avoid stress. Covering the cage will make it darker and warmer, which encourages them to mate. During the day, you should uncover the cage to ensure they get enough light.
- Make sure to cover and uncover the cage at a consistent time each day. For example, you could uncover the cage at 6 AM and cover it again at 6 PM.
Scatter some shredded wood chips at the bottom of the cage for the female parrot to shred. This will help the female parrot get in the mood for mating and nesting. Be sure to replace dirty wood chips with fresh ones daily.
- Shredding wood chips is a natural behavior for female parrots before mating, so encouraging them to shred wood can help speed up the mating process.
Observe the quick and repetitive mating behavior. When the male bird wants to mate, it will approach the female and sing flirtatious songs. It will then peck at the female's beak. If the female agrees to mate, she will lower her head and raise her tail so the male can balance on top of her. The mating process will only last for a few minutes.
- Not every mating attempt results in successful fertilization, so budgerigar parrots will often repeat their mating behavior.
Spray mist onto the bird to mimic their natural mating season. Since budgerigar parrots typically mate after rain, spraying mist onto them can help trigger their mating instincts. You should spray them several times a day, mimicking the natural rainfall to encourage mating.
- Spraying mist also encourages the birds to preen each other's feathers, making their plumage even more beautiful.
Provide the birds with a private space to mate. Avoid checking on the birds frequently or constantly opening their cage. Give them time to be together and mate in peace.
- Minimize disruptive noises. Try to create the most peaceful and comfortable environment possible for the birds.
Observe the eggs and chicks
After about 10 days of successful mating, the bird will lay its first egg. Once the birds have mated successfully and the eggs are fertilized, the female will lay her first egg about 10 days later. She will lay one egg at a time, so at first, you will only see one egg in the nest.
- Sometimes, budgerigar parrots need to mate multiple times to successfully fertilize the eggs.
The female bird typically lays between 4-8 eggs over the course of about two weeks. After the first egg is laid, the next egg will be laid 1-2 days later. The process continues with one egg laid every 1-2 days until all the eggs are laid. The total number of eggs in a clutch is usually between 4 and 8.
- The female will lay the eggs inside the nesting box.
The female bird starts incubating after laying the third egg. The female will only begin incubating after at least 2-3 eggs have been laid. This means that initially, you may find an egg alone in the nest, which is perfectly normal. Don't worry if the bird doesn't seem to be attending to the eggs in the first few days.
- The female will take on the responsibility of incubating the eggs. The male does not enter the nest.
The eggs will hatch after 18-21 days of incubation. As the eggs near hatching, you'll notice cracks appearing on the shells. The chicks will need some time to break free from the shell, but don't try to help them. If the chicks are healthy, they should be able to hatch on their own within a few hours.
- If the eggs haven't hatched after 22 days, it's best to discard them. These eggs won't hatch, and even if they do, the chicks will likely not be healthy.
Ensure the mother bird takes care of the chicks. Budgerigar parrots are generally good parents, but you should keep an eye on them to ensure the mother doesn't neglect the chicks. If there are multiple chicks, the mother might not care for the smallest ones.
- If necessary, you may need to care for any chicks that the mother neglects.
Advice
- You can separate the chicks from their mother once they are able to feed on their own. Typically, by 5 weeks of age, chicks can start eating independently. They become self-sufficient when they can peck at seeds and fill their stomachs without relying on the parents for feeding.
- Budgerigars can lay 2-3 clutches of eggs each year, depending on how often they mate.
- The male usually does not enter the nest. However, it will guard the nest and feed the female while she incubates the eggs.
Warning
- It is recommended to pair up birds for breeding. Allowing birds to mate in groups, also known as group mating, can lead to fighting and injuries or even fatalities among the birds.
What You Will Need
- Male and female birds
- Bird cage
- Cage bedding
- Perches for the birds
- Bird swing
- Breeding box
- Bird toys
- Food dish
- Water dish
- Budgerigar seeds and pellets
- Cuttlefish bone
- Mineral blocks
- Salt licks
- Fruits and vegetables
