Breeding and Health Problems In Budgies (Parakeets)

Just like any bird, Budgies can develop problems with their health or breeding. But, knowing what do to can easily help you keep your friend happy and healthy and provide another great way for you to bond with your bird. Keep in mind that most breeding and health problems are genetic in budgies, and you can normally expect them to carry on to their chicks, causing them a lower life span.

Breeding Problems

For some parakeets, breeding is just difficult for them. Sometimes the chicks can die from diseases or even attacks from adult birds in the cage. The females can fight over the brood or nesting box, and hurt the young inside. Other times, male budgies just aren't interested in the opposite sex at all and will shy away from them and not mate. Other times, it may require a small flock of the budgies for a pair to mate, such as having several pairs in a household setting where they can see each other. Other times the bird's beak can be under lapped, where the lower mandible is above the upper mandible.

If you find that any of your budgies has fatty tumors or other health problems, you should not breed them. Those that are kept for breeding should always be healthy, active, and unrelated as well. This will provide your chicks the best possible opportunity for a long, healthy life.

There is one problem that you can easily see and correct in young chicks, and that is splay leg. This normally happens when a chick cannot get a good grip on the floor of the nestbox and slips repeatedly, causing one leg to become bent outward and causing problems mating later in life. To combat this, you can simply put several pieces of paper in the bottom of the box for the female to turn into bedding for the babies.

Keep in mind that with proper care and a watchful owner's eye, any budgie can live a very long, healthy, happy life. Plus, any chicks that hatch will have the best possible opportunity to grow up and become someone's feathered friend as well.