help please!

[Crystal_Dawn]

hey guys! :p

a lady on my site has asked me a question and i'm stumped on the breeding topic: how long do budgie eggs incubate? and if the parents have always lived in a large cage with a cockateil and have gotten along fine, will it be an issue during baby raising? should the cockateil be moved to another cage temperarily???

[ETAHoffman]

The incubation period is 18 days. The hen lays eggs every other day for a total of anywhere from 4 to 8 eggs. The first egg hatches 18 days after it is laid and, then, every other day, another hatches.

I've never heard of anyone having budgies and cockatiels in the same cage... A cockatiel could bite off a budgie leg or foot with no problem. If she has them together and has had no problems so far, fine. BUT, I wouldn't attempt to breed the budgies with ANY other birds present in the same cage.

Does she have more than one pair of budgies? Unless she has several, she may not have luck breeding the budgies since they are colony birds.

Hope that helps a little.

[ETAHoffman]

If she'd like a copy of my egg hatching chart, or if you'd like one too, don't hesitate to write me and I'll email you one. (See my offer below under "Egg Hatching Chart."

[Crystal_Dawn]

thanks so much for the information! the budgie have already layed three eggs and its just the 3 of them in there so they must be comfortable. just so that you know though, I have met many many poeple who have coackateils and budgies get along in the same cage, they're actually very good buddys alot of the time! you have to introduce them slowley sometimes, but it usually goes over very well. I worked with one girl who had two budgies and a cockateil w/ their cages beside eachother and she was like me and never closed their cages and after a short time they all started mingling and became like the three muskateers! they would all be in one cage or the other and go on adventures together. She'd find the three of them staggered up the stairs trying to find the way out of the basment like that nemo movie haha. If she took either of them away from the others, the others would get very upset. before this she was takeing just one or the other to work with her (we worked in a bird department) but she had to start bringing all of them when ever she did cause the other would freak out wanting their friends back and drive her parents nuts!! :D and I know a couple ladies who have aviarys with budgies and cockateils and finches and doves etc... no love birds though, they are mean and violent to other birds lol.

oh and I'd love to have a copy of your egg hatching chart to post on my budgie site! thanks! deepinpaint@yahoo.ca

[Mistyoriline]

That's great they get along so well with other birds except love birds......was woundering if thay do...get along with doves and such birds.

[Crystal_Dawn]

yup :D i've even heard of cases of them being friends with conures! did everyone here see the wild parrots of telegraph hill?! well for those who didn't, you must!!! its a documentary about this flock of conures in a city that shouldn't have them! they are all escaped and abandoned ones who have gathered... theres this one conure in them whos a bit of an outcast from the flock because hes a different type of conure than the rest of them and he becomes friends with a budgie that somehow found the flock and desided to join them! SOOO cute! :p

[Amy]

Oooh I will have to see that!

[Crystal_Dawn]

yes you have to!!! i am buying it as soon as i have some spare money :D the budgie/conure friendship is just one small tiny side part of this amazing documentary! This guy who was pretty much homless befriended the flock and thats the main reason they made the documentary... his life with them and what he learned form them etc... SOOO incredable! ITs a tear jerker so be prepared! get the tissues ready ahead of time!

oh and theres a book too! written by the guy himself i believe. i haven't read it yet, but someday :)

[Amy]

Awwwwwwww!