The absolute basics to successfully breed four different types of the most popular pet birds. Part 1

Sexing your birds can sometimes be a bit hit and miss as not all have obvious differences between the two sexes. Adult male (cock) budgies will have a blue cere (the small flesh-like part above their beak (looks like nostrils) whereas the adult female (hen) budgie has a brown or tan-like cere, all juvenile budgies will have a pale blue cere until fully fledged. Bengalese (society) finches are very difficult to sex and best left to an avian professional (or you could just take your chances with a few and hope some pair up); the only really obvious trait is that a male will sing whereas a female will not (again not strictly true as hen birds can sometimes turn out a few pleasant notes, but the cock bird is much more efficient with his vocal chords). Normal zebra finches are generally easier to sex as the cock bird will have red or orange cheeks whereas the hen bird will not. As for cockatiels; well to be honest with you, I haven’t got a clue and just have to take my chances, an avian professional will be more able to help. With many other breeds, especially the many types of parakeets (small parrots) the male is often more brightly coloured than the female, but not in every case.

Firstly any birds you wish to breed should be in good health as raising chicks can be an exhaustive task and unfit birds would be unable to achieve it successfully.

Secondly your birds are going to require some sort of nest box, loads are available at very reasonable prices (or you could make your own), more info below.

Also you will have to ensure that there will be sufficient heat for your birds to breed and raise chicks, not excessive heat but enough for them to be comfortable.

Plus your birds will need a good regular supply of various foods to help them keep up their strength and feed their offspring.

Finally, certain nesting materials will be required for your birds to use.

So lets start at the beginning shall we; keep an eye on your birds to make sure that they display no signs of ill health or weakness. Of course the birds you hope to breed will have to be fully fledged and adult, this should go without saying. If you only have an opposite sex pair in a cage or small aviary don’t assume that they will want to breed, some just don’t fancy each other or are not ready. If however you have a large communal (or mixed) aviary your chances of breeding success will be much improved. Unless you plan to breed for the show bench (this requires much more attention) then you should allow your birds to choose their own mates. Most of the commonest birds kept as pets are monogamous by nature, that means they will pair for life and the same pair will mate year after year, there are exceptions of course but as a general rule monogamy is in where your pet birds are concerned. You will notice a paired couple in your mixed aviary as they will follow each other around and stick together, and an act known as ‘billing’ will occur often between the pair. Billing can be described as kissing, your birds will effectively ‘kiss’ each other with their bills (beaks), imitating the act of feeding each other (which of course they will actually do once nesting takes place).

This subject and others are covered more extensively in my new ebook coming soon. So for more information or to reserve your copy please email me.

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New Zealand 1962 Birds/Health/Parakeet 2v set (n20703)

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Four Tips for Buying Parakeet Cages

Before you actually buy a parakeet and bring him home, you should have a cage already set up for him.  As this will be where your new bird spends most of his time, it’s important that you pick out the right one.  This article will give you a few tips on buying parakeet cages.

Shape

An important consideration to make when choosing a cage is its shape.  There are many available shapes you can choose from.  It’s best to buy a rectangular design.  Never buy your bird a round cage because he won’t feel safe.  He needs a wall to retreat to when he gets spooked.

Material

You will also need to decide what type of material you want the cage made from.  Some of the best options include wrought iron and stainless steel.  Some cages may be made from brass, lead, zinc, or galvanized steel.  You should never buy your ‘keet a cage made from one of these materials.  Birds love to chew, and the toxic metals will likely kill them.

Size

One of the most important considerations when buying parakeet cages is size.  Never buy your bird a cage that’s too small for him.  At the very least, there should be enough room to allow him to stretch his wings fully without hitting the side of the cage.  You should try to buy the biggest cage you can afford.

Bar Spacing

It’s vital that you pay attention to the bar spacing of the cage you’re interested in buying.  The bars should be no more than 1/2-inch apart.  You don’t want your bird to try to stick his head through the bars and get stuck.

Four Expert Tips for Taking Care of Parakeets

Parakeets are very popular pets.  They’re very sociable and playful.  They also come in many different colors, so you can easily find the perfect one for you.  If you’re thinking about buying one of these birds, there are a few things you’ll need to know.  This article will give you a few tips for taking care of parakeets.

Cage

The type of cage you buy is very important.  Make sure that the cage is big enough for your keet to flap its wings completely without hitting the side.  Also, the door should be big enough for you to easily reach inside to get your bird out.  Although there are cages available in many shapes, it’s best to get a rectangular design.

Bathing

When taking care of parakeets, it’s important that you bathe them frequently.  It’s best to do so two or three times each week.  Some birds like a dedicated water dish that they can use for bathing.  Others like it better if you use a spray bottle to mist water on them.  Whichever method your bird uses, make sure he has a bath in the morning.  This will give his feathers time to dry off before night.

Trimming

It’s important that your bird gets exercise time out of his cage.  You will also need to trim his toe nails periodically whenever they get too sharp.  His beak will also get sharp and need to be trimmed with an emery board too.

Companionship

When taking care of parakeets, you should know that they are very sociable.  Your bird will feel a lot less lonely if you provide him with another keet to keep him company.  However, this will severely reduce the bond that you share with your bird.  This is due to the fact that birds would rather bond with each other than humans.