Just like expectant mothers, parakeets have special food for the mating season. This is mind-blowing to some of us. This food is slightly similar to their regular diet.
Spring is commonly known as the mating season for birds. Summer is also another breeding season. Spring is characterized by a 12-hour day and a 12-hour night. The long day hours stimulate mating. It comes as a response to photoperiodic responses.
A healthy and well-fed parakeet is essential for healthy chicks. The chicks turn out to be free of disease and have strong immunity. This read will give insight into the dietary and other requirements during mating season.
What Food Should I Give My Parakeet During Mating Season?
A parakeet’s diet should be constant; you do not have to change it during breeding, and the standard must be maintained. You should, however, invest more in protein in the diet.
1. Egg Food
Eggs are the best source of protein for breeding parakeets. It is soft and quickly digested. The male bird should take more eggs to feed the female, who will feed the chicks. The egg shells are a good source of calcium for the hen, preventing egg binding.
There are plenty of companies selling egg food, but you can easily prepare it in the comfort of your home. Take some eggs and mash them until they are soft. After mashing the eggs, you can add some seeds to make the seed-loving bird.
Parakeets are quite picky birds; enjoying egg food might take a while. Consider mixing the eggs with any food they like to cover up for the difference.
The protein in eggs makes the parakeet’s feathers healthy and bones strong.
2. Fruits and Vegetables
Vitamins are essential for healthy parents and chicks. They help in boosting immunity and prevent illness. It would help if you fed your parakeets with this vitamin source daily, with at least 50% of your diet comprising it.
Besides offering excellent immunity, green leaves have high beta-carotene content, which increases egg production.
Wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly before chopping them and feeding your bird. It is critical to have a clean diet to avoid bacterial infections. Here are some fruits and vegetables you may consider:
- Kales
- Spinach
- Carrot
- Apples
- Broccoli
- Bananas
- Cucumber
- Sprout
- Green pepper
- Lettuce
- Celery
Mix these vegetables for a tasty meal.
3. Fresh Seeds and Grains
Seeds should be at most 20% of your feathered friends’ diet. Ensure you offer the picky pair a variety of seeds. Get seeds that will offer omega 3 to your birds. Omega 3 is healthy and unsaturated fat.
Omega 3 inhibits inflammation in blood vessels, reduces plaque formation, and generally protects blood vessels.
White Millet is one of the best grains you can give your parakeet. It contains omega fatty acids, protein, and fiber. We can call in a three-in-one source of nutrients.
It is important to note that a high-fat diet is only best for this season. After breeding season, it is advisable to withdraw some of the fat sources from the birds’ diet.
Fat is essential this season because the birds need more energy to produce eggs. Other seeds you can offer your bird are:
- Canary seed
- Cracked corn
- Flax seed
- Thistle
- Cracked sunflower seeds
- Red millet
4. Quality Pellet Mix
To break the cliche of a seed-only diet, you will need pellets. Pellets have all nutrients and therefore offer a balanced diet. Parakeets will not be picky when it comes to this. A maximum of 20% of your bird’s diet can constitute pellets.
5. Water and Minerals
Clean water is essential for complete digestion and hydration. Dirty water is a potential breeding ground for bacteria which will make your lovely pair sick. You should therefore change your water from time to time.
As stated before, calcium prevents egg binding in hens. On the other hand, it builds strong bones. Keep a mineral source in your birds’ cages to ensure they have calcium reserves for breeding.
What Are Other Requirements For A Successful Breeding Season?
1. Healthy Parakeets
For a healthy chick, the parents should not be related and be at least one year old. The parents should also have no congenital disabilities and be free of diseases.
2. Compatibility
The two parents should be of the opposite gender. You can determine that by looking at the birds’ appearance.
3. The Birds Must Bond
The pair must bond for the male to feed the female. Put the birds together in a cage for bonding. You will notice their bonding when you see them spending more time physically close to each other.
Conclusion
For a successful breeding season, parakeet owners need to check on what they feed the pair before and during the season since they highly contribute to egg production. Food is not the only factor to be considered; social factors, too, contribute to successful breeding.
