What do budgies need for a nest box?

Here we come with a new Budgie breeding article! Hope you missed us! If you want to know more about the nest box and what it should look like, continue reading because we have prepared some interesting information for you!

What is essential for a Nest box to have?

A nest box is a very important part of your budgie’s life. There are some things that are essential for a nest box to contain. Follow our instructions if you want your nest box to be perfect!

First and foremost, every nest box has to have a tray where your budgie can easily lay eggs. The tray needs to be comfortable for your budgie. Try to monitor your budgie to check if the tray is suitable. If not, you can change it.

It would be great if the tray has an inbuilt screen so you can monitor your budgie. When checking up on your budgie, try not to disturb her or spend too much time looking. Make sure to clean the nest box regularly because your budgie needs to be in a clean environment so she could raise her babies properly.
It would be good if the nest box is made of wood as wood is the best type of material for your budgie and its babies. It provides both warmth and security to them. The wood should be thick at least 15 mm. When it comes to the choice of wood, it is best to use pine, cedar, or fir.

The entrance hole should be above the ground and big enough so you can clean the nest box but also it cannot be too big as it will allow bigger birds to enter the nest box.

Try not to put any perches in it as they can attract other animals. Also, do not put too many things inside of it because they can distract the parents and keep them from taking care of their babies.

Also, ventilation holes are necessary. Try to put the nest box in your budgie’s natural habitat if possible. The nest box should be placed so it’s not exposed too much either to the sun or wind. The best solution is to place it on a tree or pole. Finally, the most important part of the nest box is the darkness necessary for your female budgie to breed successfully. We’ll talk about it in detail below!

The darkness inside the nest box

You’re probably wondering why darkness is important. Believe us, darkness is crucial for your female budgie. If you want your budgie to be healthy, ensure that there is enough darkness in the cage. In order for your female budgies’ hormones to be stimulated, your budgie needs darkness.

Darkness is a synonym for safety to birds and that is why they prefer laying eggs in darkness. Besides that, your female budgie needs to rest enough and in darkness, they can have some quality sleep.
Nesting material or bedding – Shallow round to help keep eggs safe from too much rolling around
Some budgies in the wild don’t even use nesting material but for breeding nesting material is crucial. It improves the chances of budgie’s babies. Nesting material keeps the eggs warm and that is why you should prepare some nesting material for your budgie.

When it comes to the nesting material, there are a few things to keep in mind. The material should be carefully picked. The material should be of high quality and you should check if there are any sharp things that can harm your budgie. The material should also be able to absorb liquid.

Dust can also be dangerous for budgie’s respiratory system so you should pick material that is not too dusty.

If you’re wondering what is the best nesting material, the answer is wood shavings, dead leaves, twigs, dry grass, etc. Your budgie does not need a lot of this material, they use a minimum of it. Try to use one type of material and do not mix more.

In the end, every nest box needs to have a concave circle. It is necessary to protect the budgie’s eggs while your budgie is laying on them. But more important, it is used so babies do not walk on slippery surfaces during their first week.

A slippery floor can cause a condition called splayed legs and we will talk more about it later.

Cover for easy cleaning and maintenance

Nesting boxes should be covered for your budgie to feel safe. Since nesting boxes are boxes they have a roof to cover your budgie. But of course, it is much easier for you if you cover the box to prevent dust from falling on the nest box.

Today, in many shops you can find nesting pads for easy cleaning and maintenance. They are washable, moisture-resistant, and also safe for babies. These pads are built in a way to protect eggs from breaking. Holes are part of the pads and this allows budgies to lay their eggs wherever they want.
Studies show that most birds love it. They don’t reject it but rather accept it quickly.

What to Put in A Budgie Nesting Box

Our first advice is not to put too many things in it. Your budgies need space and if the nest box contains too many things, they won’t feel comfortable. And we want them to be comfortable and happy! Only then they can live a happy life and take care of their babies.

Of course, you have to put some fresh food and water. Try to put diverse food rich with nutrients necessary for the female and her babies. Fresh water is a must. Change the water every 3 hours if possible. If the water is not changed often, then your budgies could develop some stomach problems.

The next thing is to put bedding. Pine shavings could be an option. Also, one more thing to keep in mind is the shape of the nest box. It needs to be big enough so your budgies don’t develop skeleton problems.
Avoid corncob and walnut nesting material as well as cedar shavings. These materials contain toxins that can irritate your budgie. They can even be lethal.

Cedar has a smell that is too strong and can harm your budgie. Also, cat litter can be dangerous due to the presence of some toxins.

A concave also is required to prevent splayed legs.

Splayed Leg Prevention And Treatment from slippery nest box floor

Splayed legs are a common injury in many birds. It can happen either because of the slippery floor or lack of calcium.

There are a few steps you need to follow to avoid your budgie getting hurt:

Choose a proper nest box for your budgie

This nest box should be built out of good materials and should be big enough. The surface of the box should be rough. If it’s smooth, your budgies will get hurt.

Choose a good nesting material

As we mentioned previously, pine shavings are the best option. Besides that, the nest box should be cleaned regularly.

Make sure your budgie has a good diet

It should include different seeds and fresh water. You can check out our previous article regarding Homemade Budgie Food if you want your budgie to be happy and healthy.

When it comes to treatment, there are a few things to keep in mind. You can use a sponge with cutout holes for each leg. Also, aid adhesive tape can be really useful and much easier to use. In order to use the tape, you’ll need someone’s help. Don’t try to do this alone!

First, cut the tape around your budgie’s legs. The tape should not be thick in order to allow your budgie to walk normally. After you prepare the tape, put it around your budgie’s legs. Adjust the legs in the right position and then put the tape around them.

Every 3 days, you can move the legs a little bit closer to each other. After 2 weeks, your budgie will be cured.