Are you ready for bird nesting season?
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If you're a first timer with nesting season and not sure where to start, feel free to ask us about the right set up for your birds!
We have different nesting boxes for different bird breeds but a few factors tend to be the same across different nesting birds. They like their nesting box to be as high in their cage as possible as birds feel more secure higher up. The birds should be able to comfortably perch near or at the level of the nesting box's entrance.
Generally birds prefer that the entrance way of the nesting box faces away from busy areas and other nesting pairs - this helps them feel safe and secure. You can pop cardboard dividers in the cage to create more privacy between birds and reduce territorial stressors.
Different bird species prefer different nesting boxes. Budgies, parrots and cockatiels would in nature normally nest in a cavity in a tree so they prefer wooden boxes with a round entrance which is dark inside. More open nesting boxes, wicker baskets, or cup-style nests suit various species of finch, and open nests lined with soft nest liners are ideal for canaries. An L-shaped nest box is perfect for mid-sized parrots and cockatiels as the entrance leads to a landing platform, with access to a lower nesting area.
Untreated plywood or solid untreated wood is best for nest boxes, and ventilation holes and an inspection door can be very useful. Different bird breeds prefer different nesting materials which vary from loose natural fibres to pine shavings or pre-made nesting pads.
Note: never use cotton wool as they can get tangled in it, cedar shavings as the fumes are toxic, or treated timber shavings as they contain toxic chemicals.
A welcoming environment improves egg fertility, hatch rates, and chick survival and this includes the right lighting and a stable 'room temperature' warmth level (slightly higher for certain breeds like large parrots and lovebirds, and slightly cooler for canaries and some finches). Stable temperatures let the birds know it is safe to raise chicks.
You can use controlled full spectrum lighting to gradually increase 'day length' by 15-30 minutes per week to 12-14 hours to trigger breeding conditions for your indoor birds, then shorten the day length down to 10 hours so your birds rest well between breeding.
Note: Full-spectrum light (not incandescent or LED) provides UV wavelengths that birds need for colour perception and Vitamin D synthesis.
Check out our bird nesting supplies here.