House and nest for parrots: features of choice, requirements, manufacturing rules

Parrots (especially wavy ones) are very popular pets among the inhabitants of our country. However, few people start two parrots at once for the sake of their reproduction. For those owners who are thinking about breeding, it is not enough just to acquire a male and a female suitable for each other - to breed chicks, individuals will need special conditions, because first of all they need a nest.

Having two budgerigars, many owners wonder why their relationship does not produce offspring. It's all about the reproductive instincts. Regular cages, which usually contain poultry, do not require them to hatch eggs. For hatching, females need a secluded place.

But before you build a house for parrots, it is worth determining their age. Sexual maturity of this species of birds begins at one and a half years and ends in the fourth year of life. The age of budgerigars is determined by the following criteria:

• pattern on the head - usually reaches the beak itself and is present only in the youngest birds (less than six months);
• drawing over the beak - if it is absent, then the parrot has suffered the first molt, and its age exceeds six months;
• irises around the eyes - are present in the smallest individuals and expand with age, but completely disappear at the eighth month of life.

However, it will not be enough to simply prepare the nest for incubation for a certain period of time - it is necessary to provide pets with comfortable living conditions in which they will have a desire to continue their race.

First of all, of course, you need to purchase a cage that is suitable specifically for budgies. Such a house has its own characteristics and is not suitable for other varieties of parrots. Many irresponsible owners give preference to simply beautiful cells, but this is the wrong approach to choosing. A bird dwelling has to be safe and functional.

The first thing that catches your eye when choosing is the shape of the cell. The most optimal shape for budgies is a rectangular shape with a horizontal roof. Thanks to this, it is convenient to fix various accessories and attachments on the walls of the cage.

The second most important parameter is size. The cage should be large enough for the bird. Best if she can fly there. The minimum house sizes for budgies are:

• width - from 30 cm or more;
• height - 40 cm;
• length - at least 40 cm.

Very often, the owners do not take into account the distance between the rods of the cage, which is a gross violation. It should be between one and one and a half centimeters... In wider gaps, freedom-loving parrots can crawl through and get stuck in them.

The cage door must open and close up and down. In this case, the parrot will not be able to open it on its own, and the owner will not forget to close it.

It is worth paying attention to the internal arrangement of the cell.

1. If there is a grate on the floor, then it is better to remove it. Birds love to walk on the floor, and the grates only make it difficult for them to move.
2. Feeders, which are the main equipment of the cage, must be open and opaque.
3. Perches in most cases are made of plastic, but because of this, calluses appear on the paws of birds, causing them pain. Such devices should be exchanged for wooden ones, which can be made by hand.

It is also necessary to comply with the conditions for the location of the cage. The place for her should be quiet and calm, without drafts.

Many owners prefer to place their feathered pets on refrigerators, from where they can see the entire kitchen. But vibrations and noise from working equipment can harm the bird. Another serious mistake is the newspaper, which often spreads to the bottom of the cage. Printing ink is harmful to the health of the parrot.

Lovebirds are considered the second type of parrots. They are simply created to produce offspring. Since these birds do not differ much from budgies in size, cages with similar parameters are suitable for them. But if a person has a large bird, for example, such as a Karelian, then her dwelling should be appropriate. The minimum dimensions should be as follows:

• width - from 40 cm;
• length - from 50 cm;
• height - from 60 cm.

If a sweet couple of parrots live happily and in abundance, then you can think about their offspring. The chance of a female laying eggs in a simple cage is extremely low. For this reason, she will need a nest.

The first option is a cardboard nesting house. It does not require any special materials and much effort. Such a nest is made from an ordinary cardboard box, in which it is enough to make a hole with a knife or scissors.

Then you need to place it correctly. The nest can be placed on the floor of the cage itself if there is sufficient space.However, experts in this case believe that the female needs more free space, so the cardboard nest can be placed next to the cage or fixed to the roof if it is horizontal.

But the cardboard nest has plenty of drawbacks. Firstly, the material is not very convenient for parrots, as it is difficult to navigate through it. Secondly, the birds will constantly peck or chew on cardboard, which can harm their digestive system. Thirdly, cardboard is not a very durable material, and a nest from it will fit only for one period of incubation.

Plywood is a more durable and quality material. Plywood nesting house is the second option. You can always get it at a pet store. However, finding a nest with a size suitable for large birds such as the Karel will be challenging.

The best, but most time consuming option is a nest box, since for birds it represents conditions close to wild. You can make it from a natural log or stump. But it will be very difficult to find a part of a tree that is suitable in size with a rotted inner part. So you have to spend time and effort to remove the middle yourself.

You will need a properly sized cardboard box, as well as scissors or a knife. If the box is not at hand, you can use separate pieces of cardboard. Then you need to find the desired drawing on the Internet on specialized resources, transfer it to cardboard sheets, and then cut out the parts and fasten them together.

It will be more difficult with a plywood house. The following materials and tools will be required:

• several sheets of plywood;
• self-tapping screws;
• loops;
• drill;
• circular drill.

If you need to secure the nest to the cage, you will also need iron corners. Even if you purchased a pre-made plywood box from a pet store, fasteners are rarely included, or they will not be compatible with the cage. In any case, you can find suitable corners at a hardware store.

Those who dare to make a nest will have to work hard. The first challenge is finding a suitable foundation. If there are no wood scraps at the summer cottage, then you will have to go to the forest. Experienced craftsmen advise choosing aspen for this business, because it often rotts out in the middle, but the thick layer of wood under the bark remains intact. Of the tools you will need:

• chisel;
• drill;
• wood crowns;
• self-tapping screws.

First of all, you need to decide on the shape of the house and its size. The rectangular box can be vertical, horizontal or combined.

The horizontal shape reduces the risk that the female will damage the eggs when entering or exiting, but the chicks will be able to leave the nest early. The situation is reversed with a vertical house. For this reason The combined form is considered the best option.

The nest should have the following parameters (for small individuals):

• width - 17 cm;
• length - 25 cm;
• height - 25 cm;
• entrance diameter - 5 cm;
• wall thickness - 2 cm;
• floor thickness - 3 cm.

Below is a step-by-step assembly.

1. First of all, you need to make a drawing and transfer it to a sheet of plywood.
2. Then you need to cut out all parts of the future house.
3. Several holes with a diameter of 1 cm should be made in the side walls so that enough air can flow inside.
4. After that, it is necessary to connect all parts with self-tapping screws, except for the roof.
5. Place the perch inside. It is recommended to place a sill under it so that the female can more accurately descend onto the clutch.
6. Disinfect and dry the nest.
7. Place the house in the desired location and place the roof on it.

Making it at home will be a little more difficult. For convenient work, you need a workbench. The required stump of a tree should have a length of 25 to 45 cm. It is worth paying attention to the following fact: the middle of the workpiece may be rotten, but the bark should not be like that.

Let's divide the assembly into several steps, as in the previous case.

1. Remove bark from the trunk and dry it.
2. Clean out the rotten middle with a chisel and hammer, leaving a 2 cm thick wall.
3. Drill the entrance with a wood core drill.
4. Secure the bottom with self-tapping screws. Any piece of wood or plywood will do. The protruding corners should be cut off.
5. Disinfect and dry the nest.
6. Install the roof in the same way as the floor.

Below are some tips for setting up and caring for your nest:

• it is best to lay dried sawdust of any trees on the floor, except for conifers;
• it is worth choosing large sawdust so that they do not hurt the paws of the parrots;
• add one teaspoon of chamomile to the sawdust to scare off parasites;
• before hatching, keep the nest moderately moist with a plant spray bottle;
• during incubation, it is necessary to clean the nest from the shell once and change the sawdust;
• when the brood leaves the nest, the house must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected again.

See the following video for instructions on how to make a budgerigar nest.