How to breed parrots?

Parrots are tricky birds, and they are very high maintenance, But people love to keep them as pets. While it may be hard for some to stay with only one parrot, keeping multiple parrots can be fun for others. Now, to fulfil that wish, you cannot buy every parrot, but you can invest in a male and female to multiply them. So, let’s learn about how to breed parrots.

Breeding parrots can be difficult and tricky at the same time, but if you are genuinely passionate to see those little ones, then it is worth it. Unfortunately, to answer how to breed parrots is a bit difficult because breeding parrots require much attention, maintenance, knowledge and patience. 

So, if you lack any of the above qualities, you may not be the right candidate for breeding parrots. So let’s first go through all the necessary and steps that you will need while breeding the parrots:

1. Breeding cages: A breeding cage is a cage that is designed for two birds; you can picture it as two cages combined. Some breeding cages contain a middle parting which you can easily remove. Both sides of the cage have all the necessary things for the parrot-like food and water containers, toys etc. The only thing that differentiates this cage from the normal cell is the partition which you can selectively remove when parrots approach their breeding season.
2. Boxes for breeding: Breeding boxes are for the female parrots that they utilize for laying eggs. Breeding boxes are usually dark and are enclosed; they contain a small opening through which you can peep in.
3. Incubator: Going for the incubator is perfectly your choice. Once you know that the mother has laid the egg, you can let the mother hatch it, or you can put the egg in the incubator for safe hatching. Sometimes, aggressive female parrots break their eggs, so going for an incubator is a safe option.
4. Brooders: If the parent parrots do not take care of their child, you may also need to invest in brOoders. They provide the chick with essential heat, warmth, and humidity until it becomes capable of managing its own heat for survival.
5. Diet: If you are taking care of the chick yourself, it is highly recommended to buy a chick.

For breeding parrots you will need:

1. Select you parrot species
2. Ensure that both parrots, male and female are compatible with each other.
3. Invest in your equipment and diet supplies.
4. Be vigilant of the breeding season.
5. Take good care of the fertilized egg.
6. Hatch the egg using an incubator or a brooder.

How to breed parrots?

There are several species of parrots famous as pets, but as far as their breeding is concerned, it is a very delicate and complex question and is majorly generalized. Every species of parrots has its requirements, and only specialists can tell you what they are. However, in this article, we will deliver a very comprehensive and generalized view about ‘How to breed parrots?

But for every species, the requirements can be different, and for that, you may have to contact a vet. Some general tips when you are about to breed birds are:

1. The pair which you are planning to produce should be kept apart from the other members.
2. When parrots are about to become parents, their behaviours become very aggressive, and their territorial side becomes more prominent. If any of the two pairs fought, it becomes hard to keep the eggs or new ones safe. If you have only a single couple, then it is not a problem. However, if you are about to breed more than one pair, you may need to arrange a breeding aviary that contains independent sections for each bird pair.
3. Birds of the medium size will necessitate an aviary almost 350cm in length, and it should have a depth of 90 cm.
4. It would be best if you placed the aviary at least 180cm  high from the ground.
5. In addition to the aviary, there must be an indoor space as well, and it should also contain a nesting area.
6. For cleaning purposes, you must place a wire mesh beneath the aviary. It makes the cleaning of droppings easier because they will fall on the ground, usually tiled or made of concrete.
7. Territorial birds need a lot more space than small birds like budgergries, lovebirds, cockatiels, etc. But large and national birds like an African grey, Asian ringneck parrots, and many more need a lot more space to enjoy their privacy.

Parrot breeding problems

The question How to breed parrots? is not as easy, and there are several problems that can arise while breeding parrots. Here are the main issues which breeders face while breeding parrots to get new young ones:

1. Calcium deficiency can result in the breaking and reduced formation of shells. Therefore, you must provide enough calcium in the diet of the breeding pair of parrots. The female, in particular, should have provided with enough calcium.
2. Sometimes males can attack the females when they feel scared or are threatened. Therefore, you have to keep a strict eye on the breeding pair so that you do not see any misadventure. Several causes can induce the male parrot to attack the females. Some of these are aggressive and territorial neighbours, even humans, other pets like cats and dogs, and maybe the companion birds if they are not provided with enough space.
3. Territorial males are so aggressive that all of their energy and power is spent on that particular emotion. Sometimes the pressure to feed the chick is so high that they may die due to this.
4. Another breeding pair may be the cause of aggression and tension.
5. If you have kept two cages of the breeding pair close to each other, the males still can get aggressive, and when they are not able to attack the males present in the separate cage, they will bleed all their aggressiveness withe on the females or the chicks. Therefore it is necessary to provide enough distance between the breeding pairs.
6. Temperatures also play a crucial role in the process of breeding. If the temperature is too low, the parrots won’t breed. Temperature ranges vary from species to species and should be provided according to the species you are about to produce.
7. Territorial birds are very moody, and females do not take an interest in the males easily. In those cases, you have to introduce a new partner and remove the old one in which the female was not interested. On the other hand, small birds and the birds which live in flocks are quite easier to pair up and quickly select their partners to mate. That is the reason flock birds are cheaper and more accessible than large birds.
8. Adult or old aged parrots are less likely to pair and breed. In other words, they have a lower X factor, and they hardly choose while the young parrots are more in rage and can easily pair up.
9. Sometimes breeders do this trick of separating the breeding pair for sometimes, and when they meet again, they are excited and are more likely to utilize their breeding hormones.
10. An environment that resembles their natural environment induces them to breed. So it is better to have some branches and foliage in your aviary to mimic the natural habitat of a particular parrot species. In such cases, there are more chances of breeding.

How to breed ringneck parrots?

Ring-necked parrots are also known as Indian parrots. They are medium-sized and are easy to keep. They have colourful feathers, blue, green, and yellow. As you can guess by their names, males have striking rings on their necks with bright colours like red, orange, and black while females do have a ring, but they are usually faded and are hardly noticeable. As compared to other territorial species of parrots, ring-necked parrots are generally more comfortable to breed. However, ring-necked parrots are brilliant and tricky, and if they are not correctly kept, it will become tough to breed them because of their moody nature. Therefore you have to be very conscious of their behaviours, diet, and space in which you are producing them. In the following section, we will mention steps through which you can successfully breed Asian ring-necked parrots. 

Step:1

Do not just randomly put parrots in a breeding position. Always look for those parrots which have strong breeding histories and are genetically healthy. 

Step:2

It is essential to provide Asian ringneck parrots with their own space to breed. They will not produce unless otherwise, they are super shy and will not reproduce in front of other birds and will eventually lose interest in their partners. 

Step:3

Keep the breeding pair and let them interact so that females approve the male and can breed. 

Step:4

While allowing them some time, you must keep an eye on them. Probably the female won’t take an interest in the male in the beginning. In this period, if aggression occurs, she can hurt or injure the male. To avoid this, always make sure that her wings are clipped.

Step:5

Put the breeding pair on a special diet. A diet rich in calcium and other nutrients is beneficial for successful breeding and the delivery of eggs. Try to make them permanent of that diet before the breeding process. 

Step:6

Unlike other species of parrots, Ring-necked parrots prefer to breed in the winters. However, you have to keep the eggs safe while there is cold outside. So if you are about to breed these parrots in the summer season, don’t do it instead of wait for the spring and then begin the breeding process. 

Step:7

You have to place a breeding box inside the aviary, that box will provide the space to breed because they won’t breed in the open. The nesting box should be 10 cm in length, and it should be 20 cm deep. It is recommended to put the box in their usual place, and it will make them breed more often. 

Step:8

Fill the nesting material with bedding to provide comfort. You can use wood shavings, and there are also soft materials available for pets in the pet store. 

Step:9

Now you have to be patient and consistent with your birds. Wait and watch them closely as soon as their breeding season approaches the parrots will automatically breed on their own. 

Step:10

Give some time to parrots to complete the incubation process of the eggs. 

Step:11

You have to take strict care of the chicks once they are hatched from their eggs. Ring-neck parrots do not need to be fed by hand and adequately weaned up by their parents. But in some cases, some parrots can eventually lose interest in their chicks and can leave them. In such cases, you have to take care of the chicks and may have to feed them. 

Is it possible to breed parrots?

Yes, it is possible to breed, but how to breed parrots? It is the main question. The things which can you do for your parrots are listed below:

1. Please provide them with ample space so that they can freely move around and can open up their wings.
2. It is necessary to mimic the natural habitat. Give them things to explore, chew, and take care of their bathing.
3. Bright Environments are the perfect copies of a parrot’s natural environment. It will make them breed.
4. Whether they are partner birds or are parents to be, they both love the settings that will allow them to behave like what they are; parrots.
5. One most important thing that breeders forget while breeding parrots is that there is no universal law applied to every parrot. Each pair is different and will behave differently. You have to understand their needs and then cater to them accordingly.
6. Some females are just not interested in males, and they are hard to pair up with. What breeders do wrong is that they pair up such parrots that are not willing to breed and will not reproduce.
7. Earlier histories also affect the breeding abilities of parrots. Parrots with more good genetics can breed more efficiently and quickly and will ultimately produce healthy chicks.

Are parrots easy to breed?

Parrots are magnificent as pets, and they make perfect companions too. But with having parrots, there is a lot of associated work. More parrots mean more work! Simple. Breeding parrots is a complex process, and it requires dedication, compassion, and patience from the owners. Some people love their parrots so much that they even want to nurture their babies while others want to do it for business purposes. It doesn’t matter what the reason is, the thing that matters is the care and attention; the breeding pair wants from you. 

Are parrots easy to breed? The answer to this question is not that simple. Breeding is a long process, and not everyone can do it. It requires you to be mentally, physically, and monetarily secure. However, if you succeed, the reward is worth the risk and hard work. 

Parrots are available in different species, and it is essential to understand what a specific species requires and the appropriate breeding conditions. You have to open yourself to an ocean of education and experience while breeding parrots. 

What is the easiest bird to breed?

There are plenty of bird breeders that take their love of birds to a whole new level. But after making this complex decision to breed birds, there is still a question. What species should you breed?. People want to breed those species that can be reproduced easily. Below are those species that are most favourite among the breeders:

• Budgies/parakeets
• Parrotlets
• Love birds
• Cockatiels
• Green-cheeked conures

What month do parrots breed?

There are almost 350 species of parrots known to the world. Each species is designed differently and therefore, behaves differently. To answer a lot of queries, we have developed the breeding seasons for the most common and popular parrot species. These are:

Cockatiels: They can breed almost throughout the year. 

Green cheeked conures: From august to October. 

Maroon bellied conures: From August to October.

Sun conures: From July to November.

 Jenday conures: From August to October. 

Nanday conures: From August to October. 

Alexandrines: From July to September. 

Indian RingNecks: From July to September 

 Galahs: From July to December. 

Cockatoos: From September to January 

Mustache parrots: From July to September 

Quakers: From October to January 

Eclectus parrots: Throughout the year 

Rainbow Lorikeets: Throughout the year 

How to breed parrots at home?

Parrots can be bred at home by providing a proper diet, Nesting box, and allowing them to interact. A female who is not interested in the male will not produce with it. You must understand the species in which you are breeding, or else you won’t succeed. Learn about the breeding behaviours, seasons, and the successful delivery of the cheeks to make the breeding process safe and fun. 

Breeding parrots for beginners

By following the guidelines mentioned in the above sections, anyone can quickly breed parrots. However, beginners need to take the help of somebody who is experienced in the field. We suggest that to breed small and less territorial species like budgergries, cockatiels will be easier for the beginners as they are easy to handle. 

Easiest parrots to breed

The most common parrot species that are widely bred throughout the world are:

1. Cockatiels
2. Budgergries
3. Green cheeked conures
4. Maroon bellied conures
5. Sun conures
6. Jenday conures
7. Nanday conures
8. Alexanderies
9. Indian RingNecks
10. Galahs
11. Cockatoo
12. Mustache parrots
13. Quakers
14. Eclectus parrots
15. Rainbow Lorikeets