How to Breed Bird’s Nest

The bird’s nest or parakeet is a lovely bird that is loved by many pet bird owners. If you also love this bird, you can completely take care of them to breed. In the wild, swiftlets often pair up to reproduce, so in order to raise swiftlets to reproduce smoothly, you first need to pair them. Next is to make sure that the bird’s nest has a good living environment, a nesting place and suitable food. Once the birds are used to the cage, you can encourage them to mate and wait for the birds to lay eggs.

Table of Contents

Pairing for mating birds

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Buy birds from a bird farm or reputable breeder. Consult previous buyers’ reviews and check that the birds are kept in a clean and healthy environment; Make sure they are not overcrowded and show no signs of stress. Observe all the birds on display to see if they are healthy and active.

You should search online first, read reviews, and assess whether the bird shop has had bad complaints or comments.
The price of bird’s nest ranges from 200 – 400,000 VND per bird, but the price will depend on the place of sale. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Select pairs of birds that are not related by blood to avoid malformations in young birds. Males and females of the same bloodline will mate. However, the young birds they give birth to are very difficult to survive, if they do, they will also be deformed and easily sick.

When buying canaries, ask the shop owner if they are related.
Birds hatched in different places are usually not inbreeding,
Sometimes, grandparent birds can mate with great-grandchildren without much impact on the next generation. However, it is best to pair birds that are not related by blood. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Look for pairs of birds that already know each other for better pairing efficiency. As long as there is no inbreeding, birds kept in the same cage will pair faster than birds that do not know each other. The reason is that they already know each other, so you don’t need to wait for them to get used to when you bring them home. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

They are often more comfortable with each other if kept in cages next to each other. Although not as familiar as being in a cage, it is also very useful for pairing.

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Choose female birds between the ages of 1-3 years old. Waiting until the female is at least 1 year old before pairing will ensure the healthiest chicks are born. However, female birds are only fertile before 3 years of age. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

If you’re not sure how old your birds are, you can take them to an ornithologist for an estimate.

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Select male birds between the ages of 1-6 years old. Like females, males will give birth to the healthiest chicks when they are at least 1 year old. However, unlike females, males can produce healthy litters of chicks until they are 6 years old. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

An ornithologist can help determine the age of your bird if you are unsure.

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Take the bird to the ornithologist for a health check. Remember to choose a reputable, experienced ornithologist, especially experienced in taking care of swiftlets. They will help you determine if the bird is sick or deformed. Your veterinarian may want to check some of the following characteristics of your bird to make sure they are in good health: ^{[6] X Research Source}

The color of the bird is not pale
There is no discharge from the anus.
No anal obstruction.
Birds are not moody.
Birds eat and defecate well.
Birds do not vomit.

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Keep birds in the same cage. You need to keep the pair of birds you want to pair in a separate cage to make them more comfortable and easier to pair. The pair of birds will simulate behavior like in the wild and develop the need to breed. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

If they start fighting, take one out, put it in another cage, and put the two cages side by side. Watch to see if they get along well, such as playing together or preening each other through cage spokes. Once they are compatible, you can put them back in the same cage.

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Watch for signs of birds preening and feeding each other, which is a sign of pairing. When the birds began to take care of each other, they were already paired. If they can’t pair, they won’t mate. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

You’ll probably also see birds playing and sleeping next to each other.

Prepare a suitable living environment

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Choose a cage with dimensions of at least 60cm x 40cm x 40cm. This will ensure the birds have enough space to fly and have privacy. Although pairs of birds love to spend time together, they also need time alone. A large cage will allow them to move freely and have their own time. This ensures the bird will be in good health and give birth to healthy chicks. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Each pair of birds should be kept in a separate cage. If you try to keep them together, chances are they won’t mate.

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Line the cage with newspaper if available. The bottom of the cage can be uncomfortable for birds because they need a warm space to conduct mating. So you can use old newspapers to line the bird’s cage. Newspapers are quite cheap and birds can tear them apart for amusement. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Spread several layers of newspaper on the bottom of the cage.

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Place 2 or more wooden branches and swings in the cage. You need to leave enough perches and swings for two birds to play together. However, if the cage is wide enough, add more. ^{[11] X Research Source}

It is best to let the bird perch on a wooden branch. You should not choose plastic branches because birds often like to eat everything in the cage.

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Hang a box measuring 15cm x 15cm x 25cm on the side of the nesting cage. The nesting box will have a hole in the side for the female to get in and lay her eggs. Bird eggs will be safe in it. ^{[12] X Research Source}

This nest is like a bird’s nest in the wild.
You can purchase a bird nest box at a pet store or online.

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Place a sunken dish in the bird’s nest so the eggs don’t fall out. Choose a dish that is about 2.5cm deep with a diameter of about 15cm. Bird eggs will fit inside the plate and not fall out of the basket. As the chicks hatch, the surface of the plate will also make it easier for them to move around. ^{[13] X Research Source}

You can also make or buy a piece of cardboard that will fit the bottom of the bird’s nest. Remember to choose a hollow piece of cardboard.
Choose plates made from non-toxic materials, such as wood or glass.

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Spread some shavings on the plate and the bottom of the nest. The shavings are similar to the materials that birds use to make nests in the wild. Females also like to nibble on shavings when preparing to mate. In the wild, female birds often pick pieces of bark to nibble on before spawning. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Remember to spread the shavings all over the sunken dish in the nest.

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Clean the birdcage once a week. You will empty the leftover food and water, clean the trough and replace with fresh food and clean water. Remove the old cage liners and clean the birdhouse. Replace the cage with a new one and put the feed and water trough for the birds in the old position. Wash and dry the toys in the birdcage. ^{[15] X Research Source}

If the bird has laid eggs, do not change the nest until the eggs have hatched. However, you can still change the cage lining on the outside.

Feed the breeding swiftlets

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You will put bird feed, nuts, fruits and vegetables in the bird feeder. Choose bran pellets specifically for swiftlets and always have food ready for them. Feed your bird a mixture of nuts, fresh fruit, and greens twice a day. You should feed your birds raw vegetables and chopped finely to keep them happy and healthy. ^{[16] X Research Source}

The swiftlet bird likes to eat fruits such as jujube, banana, blueberry, grape, guava, kiwi, mango, melon, orange, papaya, peach, pear, pineapple and strawberry.
Favorite vegetables include: broccoli, asparagus, brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, kale, pumpkin, radish, spinach, zucchini, sweet potato, ripe tomatoes and yams.
Swallows need more food when there are young birds, so you need to provide them with food regularly.

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Hang two water troughs in the cage so that the birds always have enough water to drink. Change the bird’s water every day in the morning and afternoon so that the bird can always drink clean water. When breeding, birds also need more water. To ensure that the bird does not run out of water, it is best to prepare two water troughs for the bird in the cage, so the birds do not have to fight each other for water. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Hang the water tank trough in two different places in the cage.

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Give the birds plenty of food so they don’t eat their own eggs. Most canaries do not eat their eggs, but if there is not enough food they will. If they have eaten once, they will have a habit of continuing to eat eggs. If birds are given extra food and they continue to eat eggs, they are not suitable for breeding. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

If the swiftlets eat eggs, give them more food the next time they spawn. If the bird continues this behavior, it is best to replace the bird with another pair.

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Add mineral rock, squid shell and rock salt for birds. These foods provide essential vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, to keep birds healthy. You just need to put them in the cage, the birds will eat themselves when needed. ^{[19] X Research Source}

You can purchase these supplements at a pet store or online.

Encourage birds to mate

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The swiftlets usually mate from October to March or when it rains. Usually the mating season of swiftlets begins in October and lasts until March, but they can also mate after heavy rains. In the wild, their favorite food source is more abundant after the rains, so they will proceed to mate and reproduce. They can mate at any time of the year if there is a lot of rain. ^{[20] X Research Source}

The bird’s nest is native to Australia, where the weather is warm from October to March. If you live in the northern hemisphere, the swiftlets you raise will likely mate and breed from April to September. .

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Maintain room temperature between 18-24°C. This is the perfect temperature for birds to mate and breed. You can maintain the indoor air temperature within this temperature range or use a heater or fan to regulate the temperature in the area around the cage. ^{[21] X Research Source}

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Cover the aviary for about 12 hours per night. Birds need time to rest so they don’t get stressed. Covering will help keep the cage darker and warmer, which will encourage the birds to mate. For the rest of the day, you should leave the cage covered so that the bird has enough light. ^{[22] X Research Source}

Cover the cage and remove it at a fixed time of day. For example, you could remove the cage cover at 6am and cover it again at 6pm.

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Spread the shavings on the bottom of the cage for the hens to eat. This will help the female bird get in the mood for mating and nesting. Remember to replace the dirty shavings with new ones every day. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

Premature behavior is a behavior of female birds in the wild before mating, so encouraging the birds to shave wood can help them mate faster.

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Observe rapid and repetitive mating behavior. When the male wants to mate, he will approach the female and sing flirtatiously. It will then peck at the beak of the female bird. If the female agrees to mate, she will lower her head and raise her tail so that the male can balance on top of her. They will mate in about a few minutes. ^{[24] X Research Source}

Not every mating can fertilize eggs, so the swallow will repeat the mating behavior quite often.

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Spray mist on birds to simulate their natural mating season. Because swiftlets often mate after rain, spraying bones on people can help them get more excited to mate. Mist your birds a few times a day like rain in nature to encourage them to mate. ^{[25] X Research Sources}

Misting also encourages birds to preen each other, so their feathers will look better, too. ^{[26] X Research Sources}

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Give the bird space to mate. Do not check the birds often or constantly open their cages. Give them some comfortable time together and start mating. ^{[27] X Research Source}

Limit sounds that disturb birds. Try to give the bird the most peaceful and comfortable environment possible.

Observing eggs and chicks

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After about 10 days of successful mating, the bird will lay its first egg. Once the birds have mated and the eggs have been successfully fertilized, the female will lay eggs in about 10 days. It will lay one egg at a time, so you will only see one egg in the nest at first. ^{[28] X Research Sources}

Sometimes, swiftlets need to mate many times to successfully fertilize eggs.

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Females will usually lay 4-8 eggs in about 2 weeks. After laying the first egg, it takes 1-2 days for the bird to lay another egg. It will continue to lay 1 egg every 1-2 days until laying is complete. In total, birds will lay about 4-8 eggs per litter. ^{[29] X Research Sources}

The female will lay eggs in the nesting box.

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Birds incubate eggs after laying the 3rd fruit. Females only start incubation after laying at least 2-3 eggs. That means you will find bird eggs lying alone in the nest when there is only one. That’s completely normal, you don’t need to worry if the bird doesn’t take care of the eggs for the first few days. ^{[30] X Research Source}

The female will be responsible for incubating the eggs. The male bird will not enter the nest.

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Bird eggs hatch after incubation for 18-21 days. When the bird’s eggs are about to hatch, you will see cracks appear in the eggshells. The baby bird needs some time to come out of the shell, but don’t help it. If healthy, they will come out of the shell after a few hours. ^{[31] X Research Source}

If after 22 days there are still unhatched eggs, you should discard them. Those eggs will not hatch. If hatched, the young birds will also not be healthy.

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Make sure the mother bird takes care of the chicks. Swallows usually take good care of their young, but you need to keep an eye on them to make sure the mother bird doesn’t abandon her chicks. If the flock has many young, the mother bird will usually not take care of the youngest ones.

You can take care of baby birds that are abandoned by their mother. ^{[32] X Research Source}

Advice

You can separate the chicks from the mother when they can feed themselves. Usually at 5 weeks old, the chicks will eat on their own. They will live on their own when they can peck their own seeds and eat without needing to be fed by their parents.
Canaries can lay 2-3 litters a year, depending on their mating frequency.
Males will not normally enter the nest. However, they will stand guard over the nest and feed the hens while the hens incubate the eggs. ^{[33] X Research Sources}

Warning

It is best to pair up for breeding birds. If birds mate in groups, also known as group mating, it can lead to them fighting to death or injury.

Things you need

Male and female birds
Bird cage
Cage lining
Branches for birds to perch
Swing for birds
Nesting box
Bird toys
Food troughs
Trough for drinking water
Seeds and bran pellets for swiftlets
Squid plum
Mineral tablets
Salt rock
Fruits and vegetables

Steps