How to Build a Budgie Nest Box
Budgies, often called parakeets in the United States and budgies or budgerigars in other parts of the world, will breed year-round if placed in pairs and provided with a proper nesting area. In the wild they acquire nests in hollowed-out logs instead of building them from grass and other materials as some birds do. In captivity you can provide them with a simple cardboard or wooden box, or a small basket with room to lay four to eight eggs and sit on them to incubate for around 18 days.
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Things You'll Need
- 6 untreated wooden boards
- Wood glue
- Dowel rod
- Jigsaw
- Non-toxic wood shavings (optional)
Instructions
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Cut a small hole in one of the wooden boards using the jigsaw. The hole should be about 2 inches in diameter so that the adult budgies can get in and out of the nesting box. Cut it in the top part of the board so that when the box is constructed, the nesting area will be below the opening.
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2
Construct a box out of the wooden boards. The box should have a top and bottom, front and back, and right and left side. It should measure 6 inches wide, 7 inches deep, and 6 inches tall. Using the wood glue, attach the boards together at the edges. If the glue is not holding properly, use small nails or screws, but file down any sharp edges or points that the budgies might hurt themselves on.
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3
Attach the dowel to the front of the box below the entrance hole. This will give the adults and eventually fledglings a place to perch close to the nest. Put it no more than an inch below the bottom of the entrance and make it at least 5 inches long, so that when the babies start leaving the nest, they only have to hop out a slight distance to land on it.
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4
Add a thin layer of nesting material to the bottom of the box. Some budgies will remove all nesting material from the inside of a box before laying their eggs, so it isn't necessary to include it. If you do decide to put wood shavings in for them, keep it to a small amount, around a 1/2 inch, on the floor of the nest.
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Tips & Warnings
You can reuse a nesting box when you breed your budgies again, but ensure it is thoroughly cleaned out first.
Budgies breed throughout the year, as long as they have a place to lay their eggs. If you don't want them breeding anymore, remove the nesting box from their cage.
Ensure the entrance hole is well above the area where the eggs will be laid. They could be accidentally knocked out of the nest if the hole is too close to them, especially if they are loose and not surrounded by nesting material.
References
- Photo Credit BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images
