VMD 513: Pet animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

BREEDING OF PARROTS

• When breeding blue fronted Amazon parrots, it is important that the two birds get on with each other. 
• A hallow tree stump or a large nest box, with some damp peat dust on the bottom is ideal. 
• Wood twinges can be placed inside so that the bird will break up and use as nest material. 
• The floor of the nest box should be approximately 12x12 inches and the height 20-30 inches. 
• The entrance hole should be  4-5 inches in diameter.
  Usually 2 or 3 eggs are laid, although there are sometimes more. 
• They are not laid on the same day but at intervals of several days. 
• The female incubates the eggs.   She is provided with food by the male so that she does not need to leave the eggs. 
• After about 4 weeks, the eggs hatch. 
• Fledging occurs after about 6-8 weeks.  
• Until they can look after themselves the young are given extra food and nurtured  by both parent birds. 
• They are usually independent by the time they are three to four months old. 
• However, it will not be until they are four or five years old that the young are sexually mature. 
• During the entire breeding period the bird must be left in peace as much as possible to prevent stress causing them to leave the their nest or young