My budgie is mating with young babies. Is this normal? How to prevent?

She shouldn't be bred until she is at least 10-12 months of age. If the male is younger than that, then she certainly is not ready to mate and should not be forced. This will result in stress and possibly the loss of eggs or chicks. Separate them to give her a break from his advances until she is old enough to mate.

It would be best to separate each pair into their own cage as the birds may begin to fight over territory, food and water, perches, and shared nesting areas, which could lead to injury. If you don't wish to have babies, removing the nesting material and any eggs should resolve the issue. If you do wish to breed them, making sure the birds have a calcium supplement such as a cuttle bone can help prevent egg binding and produce healthier eggs in addition to a regular balanced diet.

Laying so many clutches of eggs and raising that many chicks can be taxing on a bird. Ideally, a breeding hen should have no more than two clutches per calendar year. Remove the remaining chicks from the cage if they are eating on their own. Remove the nesting box as well. Separate the male and female. Drop room temperature by a few degrees and gradually limit her amount of daylight she is getting. This may get her out of "breeding mode" and stop her egg laying. She should be seen by an experienced avian veterinarian to make sure the inflammation around her vent is not infection.

Thanks for your question about your budgies. Your instincts are correct - inbreeding in any species is not advisable as it can lead to defects and potential for a decreased immune system (which will make the birds be more susceptible to getting sick). There is a chance that you may not see any issues, but it is definitely something to be aware of. As far as the stress with multiple nests - I would recommend ensuring that there is plenty of space and food available as this can help decrease any potential conflicts. I hope that helps, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

It is normal for captive birds to keep breeding even if they'd already laid a clutch, however if the male is harassing the female to the point where she's unable to lay on the eggs properly, or she seems stressed out, then separating them may be a good idea. If they seem OK, are eating and drinking normally, active, and able to sit on the eggs properly, then I would just keep an eye on them. it is a good idea to have some baby bird food and a syringe on hand in case the parents are unable to care for the babies. Young parents especially may have a harder time caring for their young, so stepping in with help may be needed.

Thanks for your question about your budgies. It isn’t typical for the pair to start fighting, but it wouldn’t be unheard of either. I didn’t see if this was their first clutch together, but sometimes that can make a difference. I would recommend ensuring that there is a great deal of space for them to get away from each other, and lots of resources available. Multiple food dishes, numerous hiding spaces, etc. Also, keeping any additional stress to a minimum would be important - things like new people coming over, loud sounds, etc. I hope this gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It isn't common, but it can happen. If it happens again, ignore the behavior or gently distract him with a toy or piece of food. Avoid petting or scratching his back or under the wings and do not "beak wrestle" with him. These are all courting behaviors.