I have 4 parakeets. 3 boys and one girl. Recently my Female has been kicking out her bird food all over the place. I change it every night so it's not just shells. It's good seed that shes kicking out of the bowl. And just a few minutes ago she seemed slightly agitated while messing with a swing then kicking more food out. Now she seem calmed down. I don't have a breeder box for them. They are also not tame. Nothing I can think of has changed in there habitat/surroundings. The bird also likes to try and get out of the cage around the bars. The others don't try that.

Any clues as to why shes now kicking the food out?
I do go by myself during the day some times and remove some of the shells so they can get to the seed. Is she copying me? There is two food dishes and dispenser and a bowl. I usually only remove the shells in the dispenser not the bowl.

Are they all living in the same cage? If they are, is she in breeding condition? (dark brown cere) It sounds like she is planning on using the dish to lay eggs.

I aggree


It sounds like she may be preparing her nesting spot.

If they're all together & you don't intend on breeding you may want to separate them.

If you do want to breed then you should probably remove the 2 boys that aren't bonding or nesting with her & put into a separate cage.

Well, I have done tons of research on parakeets ever since I got them. I kinda figured it was a nesting instinct. So I got a breeding box and in just an hour or two the little lady was inside and called it home. She started spending more and more time inside. Now shes hardly coming out, 'cause she has 5 little eggs to incubate! In the beginning, we put in some shredded paper and she threw some out until it was just prefect for her. The Daddy bird is taking care of her nicely. Even the other two males 'visit' her all the time, they just don't go inside the box.
Heres a picture I took threw the bars when the momma bird was out stretching.
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/RoseBrideSama/138.jpg
We are very proud. ^_^

Update!
There are now six eggs! Or at least we just saw the 6th. ^_^

I just need to clarify something about the breeding habits of Parakeets. I've gotten confused with
all the different information and opinions out there. The female has a clutch, raises them, then has another right after? Or dose she wait until next breeding season to have that 2nd clutch? So when people say they have 2-3 clutches, is that 2-3 clutches every YEAR or every breeding season?

Also I hear two different stories on this one. That I should prevent the male and female form having the 3rd clutch. Others don't say anything about it or say it doesn't matter, let them do want they want. If I am supposed to prevent them, from having another round of eggs how do I do so without separating them from each other. (Don't have room in the house and I think it's mean to separate 'husbands and wives') Remove the breeding box after the last set of chicks have 'left home', right?

Hope you guys can clarify (love that word, LOL) this for me, thank you!

Congrats on you babies.

She will mate while the 1st clutch is still in the box. WATCH OUT when she is in the mating mood, she might become very agressive to the first clutch (she wants them out so she can have room for the 2nd clutch) If this is the case, remove her and let the dad finish raising the 1st clutch.

Don't have a 3rd clutch, each time she lays eggs, her calcium levels drop, each egg a bit weaker. Continuing like a chicken will kill her.

2-3 clutches will be a year, 1 or 2 in the spring another that fall (my breeding stock seems to be stronger by doing this, and with 40 birds, thats a good thing)

Me personally, I don't ever let a hen have a 2nd clutch, just 1 clutch PER YEAR.

As to your question about seperation, if you dont want to seperate them, order some fake eggs, replace them as she lays them, by the time the first clutch has fledged, she'll be done laying and getting ready to give up on her 2nd "dud" eggs. It isn't cruel to seperate the pair, its part of being a good breeder... they don't think like humans and certainly are not "husbands and wives"