Hello Bird Lovers,
I'm in Texas, the DFW area. I love all animals and rescue on a regular basis. I am retired and spend most of my time tending to my pets. Details later, as I don't want to be too long winded right off the bat.

My bird pets are all parakeets at the moment. I love their chatty and playful nature. I worry about doing the best for their well being, although being caged seems to be a bit cruel to me. I'm moving towards purchasing an avairy. Advice is sorely needed. Years ago I had a bird room and would just open the cages during the day and watch them do synchronized flying. So funny.

I have 4 total with more hatching as we speak. My old girl Tweets is 10 yrs. The breeding couple is 1.5 yrs. The 1 baby from their first attempt is 7 weeks. Just adorable. I fully intend to stop the breeding after this batch is hatched. Still learning. (Before baby bird left the nest box at 5 weeks, momma bird had 5 more eggs. Mistakes happen please forgive me.)

They are all super healthy and daddy bird spends half his time inside the nest box. ? Is that normal? He also tends to baby bird if she need reassurance after being kicked out of the nest. He flirts with Tweets in a separate but close cage. He's a good boy.

I have had birds all my life and learn something new everyday. This is my first foray into breeding and it happened mostly by accident. But I am keen on becoming a good bird parent. So this forum seems to be what I need to garner the experience and best practice guidelines.

Today I separated baby bird into a cage with Tweets. Momma bird let me know that baby was no longer welcome near the nest box. Even though they have a big semi divided cage.
Everyday is a new challenge with my pets. I recently rescued 2 unwanted puppies. Picked them up at 4 weeks. They have tripled in size and weight at 8 weeks. So much work and reward. My husband helps with the pups or I would be exhausted.
Sincerely,
Denra

Hi Denra and to Talk Budgies

How is the baby bird doing in with Tweets?
Is Tweets accepting him in "her" space with no problems?
You'll need to watch to be sure he is eating enough and be ready to provide supplemental feedings if necessary.

Hopefully the breeding couple is in a dedicated breeding cage?
(Or, you said they are in 1/2 of a divided cage?)

Be sure you have a separate cage on hand for when this clutch reaches 3 1/2 weeks old. At that point the Mother bird will need to be separated into a cage of her own and the Dad will finish raising the chicks at that point in time.

With regard to either an aviary or dedicated bird room, you'll need to be very careful to discourage breeding if that is the route you go. Are you planning to keep all the chicks from the two clutches?
You will want to ensure there is no inbreeding between the budgies.
Also, with a bird room, the budgies still need to have cage time and be in the cages to sleep at night.

I'm assuming the puppies will not have access to the room where the birds' current cage for the safety and well-being of the budgies.

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Hi Denra and to the forums!

It's great to have you on the forums and you've been given wonderful resources and advice so far!

I'm glad that the babies are doing well and I hope that we are able to meet them soon!

Be sure to read through all the links provided to stay up to date on the very best of budgie care, and if you have any questions, be sure to ask as we'd love to help

I hope to meet your little flock soon!

Cheers!

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Hi, Denra! Welcome to TB! Looking forward to see your birds.

Thank you all for the welcome and wonderful advice.

This forum will be such a help. I research online and through library books. But it's very time consuming, so thank you for your work in providing this forum.
How many people does it take to run this site? (If it's all you FareyBee then I salute you!)

To answer questions, Tweets and Baby Bird are good. There's a bit of bickering but 24 hours shouldn't be a big problem. I am watching them carefully. I wouldnt hesitate to pull baby bird from a harmful situation. I have a teeny cage that is standing by if feathers begin to fly.

Today I will be receiving my new flight cage. I'm so excited. It's was a great deal and I had considered used cages. ( ick, didn't relish having to sterilize it) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Not sure if links are allowed (forgive my newbieness) but this is a good deal for anyone looking to give their sweet budgies more space. (It breaks my heart to see birds (animals) caged in an all to small space.

I almost committed a crime one day when I passed an apartment with 2 beautiful budgies in a small bird cage on a small patio. Suitable for a canary or finch type bird. It's was dusk and chilly and breezy. Maybe I am over sensitive but I wanted to stop and take those budgies home and give them the care they deserve. But my son-in-law (a police officer) said it wasn't worth the crime. So sad.

I have reported and rescued many types of animals. I will let my neighbors know if I feel their animal is badly mistreated, if it's within my view. I don't go looking for trouble. Unfortunately a call to the local animal control can take 2 weeks for a follow up. I always offer solutions to help my neighbors if they are just uneducated or unaware of their neglect. I will bring a bucket of cool water to a dog on a hot day.

I once offered a bath and ear cleaning to a man who's dog was scratching and shaking her head with obvious ear problems. (Alone in a corner of his tall weedy back yard (it was 100 degree texas summer day). He rudely told me to go away as he sat in his garage with his other dog at his side. (Pampered pit bull). Ahh life, I help where I can.

FareyBee,
Big thanks for the advice, I will do the separating at 3.5 weeks. And will be sure to watch and encourage baby bird eating. The bonded couple are in their own double cage. I want to keep them all if possible. I will ask for advice and post pictures when I get this new cage assembled. I hope to put daddy bird and new babies (nestbox) in with old female (friends/flirts) in the new big cage. But what about mommie bird? This is the kind of information I have trouble finding. Socializing and conflict resolution. Lol

My birds share a closed off bedroom (no bed) with my 2 dwarf bunnies (neutered). Bun is a rescue from my granddaughter who didn't understand why her new rabbit scratched her and wet all over her bed (she's 18 yrs old). Buns girlfriend, I rescued from a girl with 3 little kids and 3 little bunnies. Not very smart. They are adorable, but high maintenance. Bunnies and kids. Lol
We have no children and are both animal lovers.

Sorry for my long winded posts,
Denra

Welcome to the forum.

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Welcome!

to TB!

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