Originally Posted by
wagdi
Hi
I have an aviary and I have some questions.
1/ does the nesting box have to be hang up, or can it just be put on top of anything?
2/ how long till my birds get used to the new avairy?
Thanks and best regards,
Wagdi
Hi,
The best way and about the only way to use a nesting box is if you have a large cage. There will need to be a whole or slot where the parakeets can go in and out from the cage into the nesting box but not outside of the cage. You cannot lay the nesting box outside the cage and if you put it in the cage it may be to crowded. A lot of parakeets do not use nesting boxes and I know a lot of them that also do not mate.
If your cockatiels want to mate they will do it inside of their cage and lay the eggs on the floor of the cage or in a food dish. What are you using on the floor? If you are using paper towels, or a wire please take it out and buy wood shavings because this is safe for the eggs and also will promote the parakeets to mate.
Also you will need to buy a cuddle bone for calcium, this will hang on the cage and it also promotes calcium for the birds so that they will mate. I do NOT recommend using a nesting box because it will be a waist because they probably will not use it. My birds (cockatiels, parakeets) have NEVER used a nesting box and I am a experienced breeder. They will be frightenened and scared of the box and again you will have to have a BIG cage and a whole for the birds to go in and out of the cage into the nesting box.
I recommend putting (unscented) wood shavings on the bottum of the cage @ about an inch or two and also provide a cuttle bone, breeding bird seed, and pellets for the birds to promote breeding. Not all parakeets breed and you may get your hopes up but this is the best advice that I can give you. A lot of pet birds will not use a nesting box and so this is what I recommend you to do!