Mother parakeet won't let babies leave nest box!?

Question

Our parakeets bred for the first time this year, & 3 healthy chicks hatched about 5 weeks ago. At 4 weeks, the oldest chick ventured out of the nest box & was greeted by a happy father & a scolding mother. The mother bird became so agitated, she began attacking the baby. We intervened & separated baby #1 & the father bird from the mother. Baby & father are doing great now, with the baby eating some on it's own & growing steadily more independent. Our current problem is about the remaining chicks. They are only a few days younger than baby #1 & clearly ready to leave the nest box, but every time they seem to attempt this, the mother bird begins scolding aggressively again & discourages these attempts. She seems to be a good mother in other respects; regularly feeding them, & bedding down in the nest box with them every night, although with the babies being so grown, it's quite crowded now. Should I be concerned about this? These chicks are already 5 weeks old!

If this "mother knows best" about caring for her chicks, why did she attack the first one? I've read that chicks typically come out of the nest box at 4 weeks old, which is when the first one ventured out. Now that the other chicks are 5 weeks old, I'm concerned that the mother hasn't let them come out yet.

Answer 1

Tthe old saying mother knows best she will let them go when she knows the time is right.

Answer 2

Wow! I've never heard of a parakeet that has laid 18 eggs. How old is the bird? If she's under a year old then the eggs may not be fertile even though she mated with a male. Also how old is the male? He also needs to be about a year old before he can successfully produce. In response to leaving the mother let it happen naturally. I've bred parakeets and I let the babies come out in their own time and when their ready. You want to watch for them to start eating food on their own so make sure that food is right next to the nesting box or near it. Also make sure they have fresh water. Mine took about 6-7 weeks to fully be able to be on their own. The mother of mine though still looks after them and will still protect them if she needs to. They need to have all their feathers including tail and flight feathers. You'll know when their ready to leave as you'll see signs of the mother starting to spend less and less time with the babies and she also will let them explore. Also the best way to keep the parakeets from breeding is to remove the nest box and house the male and female in separate cages. Parakeets should only be bred twice to three times a year otherwise they can become egg bound no matter how healthy they are. Hope this info helped

Answer 3

She isn't trying to keep the babies in rather trying to chase them out so she can start the next round of eggs. Budgie will if given the right contitions continue laying round after round of eggs and babies. We as the carers of cuase need to stop this. They can saftly have up to two rounds of clutchs but after that need a break of at least 6 months to recover lost weight,vitamins and minerals in the parents bodies.

If the hen is attacking the chicks, you did the right in in moving both chicks and father into a different cage, it is the father at this point that feeds the chicks while they learn to crack open seeds and feed themselfs which can take about two weeks to learn. You can either remove the other chicks when you see they are trying to get out of the box and place with in the cage with the father and sibling or if you want to stop this breeding now remove the box. Adding a small cardboard box at the bottom of the cage will help the chicks 'hide' if the parent pick on them.

Answer 4

Take the nest box out of the cage and see if the parents will continue to feed the babies. If the mother attacks the babies leave her alone in a cage and put all the babies with the father. Put spray millet, lots of it in the cage to start weaning the babies. As soon as they are eating on their own put them in a seperate cage and then put the parents together again. You have got to take the nest box out of the cage..

Answer 5

your rite its usually about 5 or 6 weeks wen the chicks start to venture out i would leave it for another week or so as long as shes not harming the other chicks.she's only being protective of them,leave them be and try not to be handling them on her all the time if you are.the chicks are just being curious,believe me she'l eventually want her own space as they are getting bigger.when you notice the chicks being more independant able to do things for themselfs take the nest out and they'l be grand.they might still try get fed off the mother or father even when there out of the nest but eventually the parents will put them in there place if they become too much as one of mine did.so basicaly just leave it for now and see what happens.

Answer 6

she rejected the first one as it ventured out on its own just make sure no one handles the youngests yet she will let them out of the nest box when she is ready ................... i.m a breeder of six different varities of birds and my father is doing it about twenty years so i know what i,m talking about .......... good luck...

Answer 7

She obviously thinks there not ready for the big bad world yet,, you know what mums are like

Answer 8

How would you like someone taking your babies? Get it? Just let it happen.

Answer 9

good morning .its her first time you say , well thats your answer . they do not all ways get it right first time . just had a similar experience with my ringnecks

Answer 10

It's all paternal instinct, they're not ready yet.