Without knowledge and experience, it is quite difficult to breed several species of birds for sale at once. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the category that is characterized by high demand and minimal investment.
What does the initial investment consist of?
Not many birds are able to breed in captivity, which means you must create a comfortable room for parrots. It is desirable if it is separate and soundproof. Birds are kept in cages, and you need to have both one common aviary for free movement, and isolated cages for pairs with chicks and lively males. A typical average parrot cage starts at $10. You can make a common enclosure with your own hands from a metal mesh and scrap materials.
The initial investment includes the purchase of the parrots themselves. There must be several pairs of birds. To save money, you can take two males and several females, if the characteristics of the species do not require the formation of permanent pairs. For example, lovebirds choose a mate for life.
The cheapest are Budgerigars. Their prices start at $8. A pair of Lovebirds costs about $20. Birds of the Corella species have a price from 15 dollars, Rosella and Kakarik from 50 dollars, and the Kalita breed from 80 conventional units. Rare species of large parrots require large investments. So, the price of Senegalese is from 300 dollars, and a talking Jaco will cost you at least 1000 dollars for one bird.
Features of selection and preparation of livestock for breeding
In order for the offspring to be healthy and strong, it is necessary to form pairs from different families. The age of readiness for reproduction in most breeds occurs at 1.5 years, and maximum productivity occurs from 2 to 4 years. This means that it is better to purchase chicks than old birds. It can be difficult even for a breeder to guess the sex of a parrot, which is why it is very important to have several pairs.
Before purchasing expensive species, a mandatory consultation with an ornithologist and veterinarian is necessary. All parrots must be healthy and, if possible, vaccinated. If there are no vaccinations, you can perform them yourself by calling a doctor at home. This should be done even if you are breeding regular Budgerigars. Vaccinated against the following diseases:
- Bird flu;
- Diphtheria smallpox;
- Newcastle disease;
- Cutaneous smallpox.
In addition, treatment against insect damage (bird fleas, lice eaters) should be done. Each newly purchased bird is quarantined for two weeks in a separate room. Medical examination and preventive measures will help you avoid the sudden fall of all birds.
Arrangement of cages and nests for offspring
Once you have decided on the species, you need to prepare the cages before purchasing pairs for breeding. The minimum dimensions of the space for keeping parrots should be 0.6 meters in length and 0.4 meters in height. Otherwise, the birds will not reproduce well.
For example, to actively raise their offspring, budgerigars must live in a flock, which means it is better to choose a common large cage for all pairs.
A common cage will also be required so that lovebirds can choose a mate. It will not work to do this artificially, simply by choosing it yourself.
The internal equipment of the cage should include:
- Wooden perches;
- Several feeders for different types of food;
- Several drinkers, one for three to four birds;
- Toys and swings for games and exercise;
- Twigs for sharpening beaks.
The arrangement of nests deserves special attention. They come in three types of designs:
- Horizontal- a box elongated in width, the height of which allows the parrot to move only horizontally. The disadvantage is the possibility of accidental loss of chicks.
- Vertical- a box elongated in height, allowing the female to move vertically. The main disadvantage is the likelihood of accidental damage to the eggs and brood by the female.
- Combined- a large box that allows birds to move in all directions. The disadvantage of such a nest is that it takes up a lot of space in individual cages.
The nest box is hung outside the cage, having made an entrance hole in advance, or to its ceiling at a distance of about 20 centimeters. The bottom of the nest box should have a recess, which allows the eggs to be constantly in one place. Sawdust is used as insulating bedding, but only for those bird species that need it. The number of nests must correspond to the number of reproductive couples.
This is what a nest for lovebirds in an aviary might look likeFood and care costs
In addition to the initial investment, the parrot business has daily costs for food and vitamins. It is also necessary to ensure suitable and stable climatic conditions.
The diet of parrots includes the following types of food:
- Dry grain mixtures;
- Sprouted grains of wheat and other cereals;
- Cottage cheese or special chalk for birds;
- Vegetables and fruits;
- Vitamin and mineral complex supplements;
- Clean drinking water.
For normal keeping, birds need an average temperature of 20-25°C. It will only need to be maintained artificially during the periods before and after the heating season. During the hatching of the chicks, the temperature should be raised to 30°C, gradually decreasing from the 10th day of life of the hatched parrots. Considering that, on average, birds can give birth up to three times during the year, additional heating equipment with a good thermostat will be required to maintain the desired climate.
When breeding some species, for example the Corella parrot, the chicks require not only additional heating, but also lighting. Since they breed primarily in winter, it is necessary to provide at least 14 hours of daylight per day.
Parrots should be fed a variety of nutritious foods containing all the necessary vitamins, micro- and macroelements - only in this case will they be healthy and attractive to buyers
Difficulties in registering a parrot breeding nursery
Business legalization is a painstaking process, but without it you will not be able to trade through stores, import and export birds from the country for international trade or participation in exhibitions.
You can register a parrot breeding business as an individual entrepreneur (PE) or LLC. Unfortunately, there is currently no separate legislation regarding ornamental birds, and therefore, when choosing OKVED codes, it would be rational to select the item “Breeding of various species of animals.” An important point is the presence on the staff of a veterinarian with an education who can combine the position of manager.
The premises for birds must comply with sanitary and veterinary requirements, as well as fire safety (especially if autonomous heating and lighting are installed). It must contain ventilation hoods, plumbing fixtures and disinfectant mats (disinfecting mats). A separate room must be allocated for bird quarantine.
Breeding parrots at home as a business also requires an agreement with a company involved in the disposal of pet waste. All documents for birds (certificates, receipts), especially species included in CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) must be retained for the period of operation of the nursery from the moment of its establishment. If a bird is listed in the Red Book (for example, the Macaw parrot), you must have documentary evidence of its appearance in captivity or import into the country, otherwise its sale is punishable by law.
Upon completion of the visit to your nursery, all commissions issue a certificate allowing the breeding and sale of parrots. The document must be renewed annually.
A legal nursery is very often subject to inspections. If an epidemic of psittacosis or bird flu occurs, it is necessary to immediately prepare evidence of the absence of contact with wild birds. Otherwise, your business will be closed. Laboratory tests are required monthly to confirm the absence of diseases.
It's not difficult if you meet certain requirements.
Budgerigars have been kept in captivity for a long time and do not have high demands on the conditions necessary for reproduction.
CONDITIONS FOR REPRODUCTION
Only healthy birds are suitable for mating; weak and sick birds will not be able to lay full-fledged eggs. They turn out to be unfertilized or with embryos that died during development. Prerequisites, at which reproduction occurs:
- sexual maturity of birds;
- properly organized feeding;
- presence of a nesting house;
- temperature about 25 degrees;
- long daylight hours.
By the time of breeding must reach age for reproduction. For budgerigars, the optimal age is 1-9 years. At an earlier or later age, it is advisable not to start breeding, since the offspring may appear defective and weak. A female under 1 year of age sometimes dies when laying eggs; her body is not fully formed.
Females that are too fat have difficulty laying eggs, do not sit well on them, and often suffer from tumors. If bird molts, it cannot be used for breeding: it requires additional substances to restore its plumage, and it will be difficult to carry out a clutch of eggs. At 2-4 years old, budgies are more fertile. If the living conditions are good, and there are no more than 3 broods per year, the ability to reproduce is not lost even in older parrots.
HOW TO SELECT A PAIR?
This point is very important for successful reproduction. Only birds from different parents can have strong offspring; the risk of developing developmental anomalies or hereditary diseases in the offspring is less.
After mating, the birds recognize each other, can distinguish a partner from other parrots, and spend more time together. When choosing a pair, you need to pay attention to birds that are already paired, since parrots artificially paired may not have offspring for several years.
The birds are healthy and active ones mate quickly. After the parrot chooses a female, he takes care of her: he cleans her feathers, making certain sounds, and gives her food from his beak.
The female perceives courtship in her own way: she closes her eyes, bows her head, and the birds often kiss.
BREEDING PERIOD
It is not recommended to start breeding parrots early in the spring: due to lack of light in winter and lack of vitamins in food, the offspring may be weakened. It is better to breed in summer, early autumn. Chicks will appear They can do it later (in winter), but additional conditions will need to be created: extend the daylight hours to 15 hours with the help of lighting, maintain the temperature at about 20 degrees, and constantly provide fresh herbs.
Video: breeding process
Preparation for breeding
It is recommended to prepare the birds several weeks before hanging the house. Daylight hours need to be increased to 15 hours using artificial lighting. Do not allow the room temperature to drop below 15 degrees so that the birds do not expend energy to maintain their body temperature.
Elevated temperature can cause embryo death. Increasing daylight hours must be done gradually, otherwise birds may begin molting prematurely.
NEST HOUSE
The appearance of a nesting house in a cage serves as a signal for reproduction. In addition to this, the couple will need materials for arrangement (pieces of fabric, cotton wool, paper) and sawdust for the house (except for sawdust from coniferous trees, they contain resinous substances).
The cage where the nesting house is hung should have dimensions of 60x30x40 cm. In small cages, parrots can refuse to nest or behave aggressively towards offspring.
It is more difficult for parrots to nest when there are only a pair, it’s better when there are several of them. You can buy a ready-made nest or make it yourself (size 16x16x25 cm). Before hanging, you need to disinfect it with a soda solution or by holding it at a temperature of 130 degrees in the oven, or by treating it with a special BioG preparation).
Feeders and drinkers should also be disinfected. Birds notice the nest, examine it, if the outcome is favorable, 2-3 weeks after hanging the nest an egg appears. However, this can happen later; the wait sometimes lasts up to 6 months. Usually every other day the female lays eggs, there are 5-6 of them in total, and begins incubation after 3 eggs.
Video: choosing a socket
Features of feeding
In preparation for reproduction, a varied diet is necessary with the mandatory inclusion of vitamins and minerals. Birds need more sprouted grains, greens, and fruits. If there is a lack of minerals, oviposition may be difficult (the female fails to lay an egg or it ends up without a shell).
The female must get more soft egg food, but as soon as she sits down to hatch the eggs, you need to stop giving it until the chicks hatch (so as not to lay a lot of eggs, otherwise the female is exhausted and some of the eggs in the clutch turn out to be unfertilized).
HATCHING CONDITIONS
Young females lay fewer eggs than older ones. Only the female incubates the chicks, although the male feeds her and stays in the house for a long time. A week after the last egg appears in the nest, they are checked. Fertilized ones are matte gray-white in color, the rest are spotted or yellow-white with a shiny surface.
Hatching lasts from 18 to 20 days. Eggs that have lain for more than 21 days are unfertilized or have a dead embryo. They should be removed from the house. Every 2-3 days you should check the nest and if there are dead chicks, remove them.
The chicks fly out of the nest 30-35 days after hatching. Once they can fly on their own, they can be placed in another cage. A pair of parrots can make 4-5 clutches, but this amount exhausts the female, and the chicks appear weak and often die. At the end of the laying, the house should be removed and the female should be removed. Having reduced the daylight hours for her to 9 hours (gradually decreasing by 10 minutes per day), give her only grain food. This will prevent masonry. You can be allowed to make 1 clutch every six months.
When breeding budgies, it is important to understand all measure of responsibility. Compliance with all requirements will save the life of the chicks, and sometimes the life of the couple involved in the process.
Parrots are very attractive birds that are liked by all people. They are sold very actively in pet stores, so there is a reason to engage in the business of breeding and selling parrots - this is always relevant.
But you should be warned that, despite their pretty and attractive appearance, there are many problems with these parrots. First of all, they are very noisy, and there is a lot of dirt from them, but this business offers many advantages.
Parrot breeding
The most difficult thing in this business is breeding. Selling them is much easier, so let's start with the difficult ones. First, parrots reproduce well, which is a big advantage. You don’t need many conditions for reproduction: just a cage, a special room and choosing the right time of year are enough. Ideally, it should be summer or spring.
Conditions for breeding
So, you need to breed parrots in a special room, where it is warm, there is a lot of greenery and sun. It is important to provide these birds with a long day (from 12 to 14 hours), so even if it gets dark early, you need to create artificial lighting in the room. The temperature should vary from 20 to 22 C. If you adhere to these conditions, the parrots will grow up healthy and beautiful - this is exactly what the product should look like. Oh yes, the cells also need to be specially equipped. Here you need fresh cells and a tasty treat - rowan.
ATTENTION! Protect your parrot from your cat... well, or your cat from your parrot.
Bird selection
It goes without saying that you need to buy young birds for breeding. If you buy old ones, it is more difficult to expect offspring from them. Young ones are expensive, but the overpayment will pay off later. There are also other criteria for choosing parrots: mobility, fatness and activity. If the parrots are flabby and thin, then they hatch eggs poorly. They try to prevent them from breeding, so you shouldn’t buy such birds either.
Cell selection
When choosing a cage, you need to take into account the life characteristics of the birds themselves. Basically, budgerigars (which is exactly what we need) live in groups, so it is best to choose one large cage for 3-4 pairs of parrots. Here they will get along and actively reproduce.
However, one cell is not enough. We need at least 2-3 more, and each has 3-4 pairs of parrots. The fact is that close relationships, even among parrots, are fraught with bad offspring, and this should be avoided. Therefore, it is advisable to place the offspring from two different cells into one.
Of course, now cages are sold already prepared, but we still note: a nesting box should be provided in the entrance - this, one might say, is an addition to the cage. This box must be spacious, otherwise the parrots will feel cramped. See photo
Birds mating
Note that breeding budgies as a business requires tolerance. The ideal age for mating is 1 year and older. Sometimes birds mature earlier and nest at 8 months, but this must be stopped immediately. If you miss, the young female may die, because her young body simply cannot withstand the stress of laying an egg.
An interesting observation: if budgerigars live together for a long time and know each other well, then the male always cares for his female. It is impossible to separate them in this case. Only death is capable.
To ensure ideal mating conditions for parrots, which will ultimately lead to business growth, you need to allow them to fly a lot. Flight for birds is like sport for humans - it promotes metabolism, strengthens the body and improves appetite. You need to feed appropriately: boiled eggs, low-fat cottage cheese, grains. There should always be a stone or mineral chalk in the cage - this is a prerequisite.
If normal conditions are created, birds can be safely introduced. Within 8-10 days after settlement, the female (provided she is of normal age) lays the first eggs, 7-10 eggs.
The first chick will appear within 20 days, the rest after 1-2 days. Until this moment, you need to take care of bird food: chicken eggs, steamed oats. You will have to give more grain mixture, because... the family is growing. We also attach a video on breeding parrots:
3 weeks after birth, the chicks are covered with feathers, and after 30-40 days they can fly freely. Here they need to be put in another cage for the purpose of subsequent reproduction or sold.
Running a budgerigar breeding business
The hardest part is over. Breeding parrots is much more difficult than selling them. It doesn't take much intelligence to sell. All means are good here, but the most basic one is the market. Almost every city has markets where people come to buy a pet, and your parrots will come in handy there.
Also, breeding parrots as a business can be done at home. Just place ads in newspapers and on the Internet, indicating your phone number. Next, just arrange a meeting with clients and conclude deals. This format is not very solid, but it works quite well.
Many lovers of talking birds have thought from time to time about breeding budgies at home. However, this is not so simple, since the owner of the feathered pair must also become an expert in this field. He has a lot to learn and gradually gains his own experience.
To raise healthy children in a feathered family, you will have to follow certain rules of care, feeding, nesting and preparing the house.
Firstly, breeding budgerigars assumes that the owner of these beautiful birds will not cage same-sex individuals. Two females will quarrel and lead to the idea that the pair is unsuccessful. But males can get along quite peacefully together (until they have a girlfriend). Inexperienced owners cannot understand why they do not begin to reproduce. And it’s all about purely “brotherly” relationships.
The age of the female and male should not be less than 2 and not older than 8 years. Puberty during this period has already gained momentum. In a year, one such pair is capable of producing three broods. Older individuals reproduce offspring with difficulty, and they are weak and sick. A very young female may not be able to withstand such a load and die.
Necessary conditions include:
- health status;
- illnesses that they suffered before (budgerigars mate only in a healthy state). Not only sick, but also recovering birds cannot become parents;
- balanced nutrition for feathered pets;
- length of daylight hours;
- the air temperature in the room where the cage is located should be between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius;
- availability of a nesting house;
- females should not be obese, they are prone to tumors and fall off their eggs;
- During molting periods there is no point in expecting offspring.
Matching
To be successful in breeding budgies, you should pay attention not only to the age and health of the birds. It is advisable to select future parents of chicks from different families that are not united by common genetics. This will avoid anomalies in the health of the offspring.
Some experts allow males and females to find their own mates, keeping a whole group of different-sex parrots in one large cage. When they find a companion and partner on their own, this will save the owner from the hassle and unsuccessful attempts. Because there are cases when a female behaves aggressively with her intended partner, and they do not have the prerequisites for mating and offspring. Time is lost, and the owner needs to go and look for the next candidate, hoping for success on the second or third try.
They suggest checking the unity of characters when meeting in the following way:
- Place the prospective couple in adjacent cages.
- If the candidates are attracted to each other, let them fly together on neutral territory.
- Launching birds into one cage.
The location of the male budgerigar and the female can be seen by the following signs:
- he tries to clean her feathers, feeds her from his beak, coos like a dove;
- she nods her head and kisses the future dad of their children. Even if there are several other parrots in the cage, the female stays close to her gentleman.
The right time for breeding
Experts say that the best time for parrots to start breeding is late spring. The daylight hours have increased and reach 15 hours, there is a lot of green food around and enough warmth. Until early autumn, you can plant parrots on clutches. It’s more difficult in winter, as additional lighting needs to be installed.
Experienced ornithologists do not advise preparing pairs for future offspring in early spring. The past winter has weakened them. The mating season for budgerigars will pass, but healthy offspring will not be produced. The body of the expectant mother needs vitamins in sufficient quantities. And in spring and summer, you can absolutely safely feed her with greens up to three times a day.
Preparing the cage and nest
Breeding budgies requires careful preparation of the cage and all its elements. For example, a female, preparing for maternal responsibilities, begins to gnaw on everything she can reach. To avoid damage to cage parts and other accessories, it is recommended to put a vitamin stone and several twigs. Let her fulfill her need on them.
The cage is placed at eye level of the owner, this makes the birds safer and calmer. You should not place it near a microwave oven or gas stove.
The room where you decide to keep the parrots should be well ventilated, but at the same time avoid drafts. As soon as the parrots begin the nesting period, do not move the cage, do no repairs in this room, and do not produce sounds unusual for birds.
For the hygiene of the mother and future offspring, disinfection and sterilization are necessary: wipe with “White” and rinse the drinking bowl, feeder, and cage in warm water. The nest is washed using baby liquid soap, dried and heated in the oven at a temperature of about 130 degrees for 40 minutes. Mix sawdust with chamomile. This will repel gamas ticks.
Proper feeding
During the breeding season, the female needs a huge amount of nutrients. The formation of eggs and the normal development of embryos requires special cuisine. Store-bought food does not provide this. The owner of the pair should think about additional nutrition as a source of essential elements and vitamins.
Experts recommend mixing carrots with an egg and a source of calcium. The female tolerates laying well with this diet. But the abundance of this mixture can lead to illness. Therefore, it is better to give it every other day.
Feeding budgies with sprouted grain is recommended not only during the nesting period. For feathered friends, this is an indispensable source of microelements and vitamins. The owner should always add calcium-containing foods, vegetables and fruits to the cage.
When laying eggs, soft food is excluded, and the volume of grains is doubled. Parrots get the necessary carotene from pumpkin, carrots and red sweet peppers.
When the chicks hatch, the parents are given yeast with phosphorus and calcium gluconate. And the chicks first feed on milk from the female’s crop. Afterwards they are transferred to grain.
Nesting period
The nesting period includes several important moments: from mating to the appearance of chicks. Depending on whether mating took place quickly or within two weeks, the wait for the young can last up to a month.
Pairing
Ornithologists note that mating of budgerigars can be one-time and sufficient for fertilization and the appearance of offspring. As a rule, the owners do not notice the rapid mating process. But sometimes mating games of budgies are repeated within 1-3 weeks.
Behavior of a pregnant female
After mating, the female's behavior begins to change. Ready to lay her eggs, she begins to familiarize herself with the nesting site. First, she looks at the nest from afar, stretching her neck. After some time, feeling that there is nothing to be afraid of, the female begins to slowly approach him. Depending on her character traits, sooner or later the female flies inside the house and begins to settle in there: gnawing on the walls and throwing out what, in her opinion, is unnecessary.
Hatching offspring
It is necessary to ensure that none of the fertilized eggs is left unwarmed. Hatching lasts up to three weeks. If during this period some of the eggs do not hatch, they are removed. It happens that some chicks die after hatching. To detect and remove them, the house is checked 2-3 times a week.
Determination of egg quality
In simpler terms, this procedure is called ovoscopy. A week after laying, the eggs are checked. Fertilized ones have a matte tint, while unfertilized ones have some gloss in appearance and the color is mottled or yellowish-white.
Among the known defects are the following:
- blood clots in the egg;
- the embryo dries to the shell wall;
- the yolk and white are mixed;
- foreign objects enter the egg while still in the female’s oviduct;
- the air chamber in the egg moves;
- mold spots inside.
The appearance of chicks
The chicks are born blind and very weak. The body is completely naked, the opening of the eyes occurs after 6 or 7 days. But they can concentrate their gaze only 3 days later.
If a mother behaves aggressively towards her children, the babies are immediately removed. The female begins to leave the nesting site about two weeks after the chicks appear and returns to her usual quiet life.
The first chick hatches much earlier than the last one. The gradual laying of eggs is the reason for the extended hatching and maturation of the chicks.
Why don't budgies reproduce?
One of the reasons is that the birds did not show mutual sympathy for each other.
But there are other reasons:
- the male is much younger than his girlfriend;
- the rules for introducing parrots are not followed by their owner;
- small cell size.
Reproduction of budgies is not such a simple process. The concept of “met and live, reproducing offspring” does not guarantee success. People put up with cramped spaces and other inconveniences as they build their lives. Birds, on the other hand, require decent conditions so that the family can take place, and they decided that it was time to “have” children.
Perhaps some of your friends keep a pair of budgies, or there are those who are unsuccessfully trying to breed a new generation. If you are on social networks, post a link to this material for them, do them a significant favor.
Budgerigars are very popular among bird lovers. The title of a beloved pet rightfully belongs to them, because they are affectionate, have an easy-going disposition and sincerely love their owners, moreover, they do not echo the surrounding area with their heart-rending screams. Very often, the owners of these wonderful birds want to increase their numbers through breeding.
Obtaining offspring is an activity that should be approached with all responsibility, since compliance with the peculiarities of keeping birds and attention to the behavior of birds play an important role here.
In order for the bird to have offspring, it is necessary to realize that the budgerigar is a flocking bird, and therefore the parrot must have sufficient space for mating and some choice among birds of its species.
When there are many birds in a cage, the formation of pairs is difficult to predict. The female always chooses and, as a rule, such pairs do not break up.
If you already have a male budgie, buy him a female at the age of 2-4 months. 
It’s no secret that females dominate over males, and this way your pet will have the opportunity to tame the female “for himself.”
While the bird matures, it will have time to become attached to its partner and will not be able to show its character in full force.
If you already have a one-year-old female in your house, and you are thinking about purchasing a male for her, opt for a male who has already established himself as a “dad”. Such a male is able to influence the character of the female and her absurd antics.
Only healthy (physically and psychologically) birds that have reached one year of age are selected for breeding. Birds must be selected from different nurseries to prevent mixing of relationships, which could result in genetically deformed chicks.
Video: selecting a pair for breeding budgerigars For birds living in captivity, the optimal age for breeding is considered to be fourteen months. With proper care and proper maintenance, birds can reproduce until they reach ten years of age.
To prevent the appearance of weak or dead chicks, you should not mate an established pair more than twice a year.
Important! Overweight birds, those in the process of molting and birds with physical exhaustion are not allowed to lay eggs!
The best period for mating is considered to be from June to September.. At this time, the birds have enough vitamins, a sunny day, and air temperature.
At the beginning of spring, the parrots' body is weakened, they lack vitamins, and are unable to reproduce healthy offspring.
It happens that the appearance of chicks is expected in winter. 
It is necessary to prepare for such masonry and improve conditions as much as possible:
- increase daylight hours up to 16 hours using special fluorescent lamps;
- maintain the room temperature at least +20 °C;
- organize enhanced nutrition for the female with the addition of fresh herbs at least twice a day.
What should a cell be like?
For one pair of birds, a cage measuring 60*40*40 cm is suitable, for two pairs - twice as large. The design of the cage should be simple, made of durable material. It is desirable that the bottom of the cage extends, and it is possible to attach a nesting house to the side panels.
There are three types of bird houses: vertical house, horizontal house and compromise house. Whatever type of house you choose, it must have a folding or removable roof. This is necessary for timely inspection of the masonry, cleaning and disinfection of the nest.
Did you know? Budgerigars colonized Australia 5,000,000 years ago, during which time 200 species of these birds have survived.
Birds need to be prepared for breeding two to three weeks before the nesting house appears in the cage.
Did you know? The budgerigar is a rather talkative bird. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the parrot Puck was recorded as having a vocabulary of 1,700 words! To properly appreciate the capabilities of a bird, this is the vocabulary the average five-year-old child has.
It should consist of more than just seeds, grains, fruits and vegetables. Its composition should include: greens, sprouted grains, cereals, calcium, mineral supplements, eggs and two percent cottage cheese.
The high content of vitamin E in pet food promotes their reproduction. It is vital that budgies eat all foods. 
During nesting, the female needs increased nutrition, which is specially enriched with food and mineral supplements.
To get healthy offspring, many breeders feed their pets every other day with an enriched mixture: carrots, eggs, cottage cheese and sprouted grains.
The mating games that budgerigars demonstrate are quite a touching sight.
The male carefully cares for the female, trying to please her, tries to feed her, takes funny poses so that the chosen one will pay attention to him, makes amazing sounds, chatters (knocks with his beak on various objects, including the beak of the chosen one). 
The desire to feed the female is the main indicator for the chosen one that the male is ready for a serious relationship, since it is he who will be the provider of food, the breadwinner for her while she hatches the eggs.
Did you know? It's hard to believe, but these birds can turn their heads 180° !
How many eggs does the female lay?
As a rule, the female lays eggs every other day. The number of eggs laid is affected by the age of the bird; most often there are about seven, sometimes more, although five eggs is considered the optimal number.
This is exactly the amount a female parrot can heat evenly. If there are more eggs in the clutch, then they can be placed in an incubator or placed on another pair of budgies.
Video: how to understand that a female budgerigar is pregnant
How long does it take for chicks to hatch?
The incubation period for parrot eggs is 18 days. The chicks appear on the 19th day. It’s good when, at the time the chicks hatch, the air humidity is high - more than 60%, then the risk of the chick dying due to the film that can dry on it due to dry air will be zero.
Only the chicks that are born are not at all like their relatives: naked, blind, helpless. They are so weak that they are unable to hold their head, so they lie on their backs all the time.
It is in this position that the female budgerigar feeds them; she is next to them all the time, warms the babies, and prevents them from freezing. The female parrot takes good care of her chicks, feeding them crop milk and grain. 
Babies develop quite quickly. Judge for yourself: the weight of a newly hatched chick is 1 g, and after two days - 4 g. If the female hatches a clutch of more than 5 eggs, then there is a danger that the first grown chicks will crush the younger ones.
Did you know? In the natural environment, non-domesticated birds, like people, give their chicks names. In order to call them, they use a certain sound combination, to which the chicks respond.
The care that is required from a person at this time is to monitor the cleanliness of the nest and change the sawdust.
The first cleaning occurs two weeks after all the chicks have hatched, and then every week. Cleaning the bird's home must be done very quickly so that the chicks do not freeze and the female does not get too nervous.
When can chicks be separated from their parents?
The chicks are separated from their parents into another cage on the 3rd or 4th day after leaving the parental nest. As a rule, they should be 35 days old by this time.
In case of aggressive behavior of the female, the chicks are taken earlier, and if they are very young, then they are placed on another pair of birds, and if they are already fledged, they are fed on their own.
It is considered normal for one or two eggs to freeze in a clutch. This happens to young females who do not yet have experience and simply could not warm up the entire clutch. It's another matter if the entire masonry died.
The cause of death may be:
- genetically incompatible parents;
- the inability of the female to hatch eggs normally;
- poorly formulated parrot nutrition;
- low quality water;
- infectious disease in birds;
- high temperature in an apartment with low humidity.
Unfertilized eggs occur when birds are not properly prepared for mating, or they signal that the bird has health problems. Successful breeding of budgies depends on careful preliminary preparation, attention to your pets and their health.