If you are thinking that it’s time for breeding parrots, you need to arm yourself with patience and read up on the subject before even starting. Parrot breeding at home could prove a hard task, especially if you have never done it before, yet at the same time can be a massively rewarding past time.

The first thing you need to know is that parrots do not have a particular breeding period and season. They can lay eggs at any time. The main problem is to find someone who can provide you with an adult parrot that will be the ideal mate for your bird. It is not, though, easy to know the exact age of the bird, as many are caught in the wild and sold to pet owners. Of course captive bred birds are readily available these days, but still tend to be more expensive that wild caught parrots and not always as readily available.

You can check for parrot breeders online; there are not many and not everyone is dependable, but with a little research and due diligence you should be able to find one in your area. The biggest problem with parrot breeding is finding a suitable match. Not all parrots will take to one another, so patience and persistence are the qualities of a successful parrot breeder. The more options you have the better so try to network with other local breeders and keepers. If you’re lucky enough to have an experienced and reputable parrot breeder nearby you’ll do well to befriend them and learn what you can, leveraging their experience and contacts.

The majority of parrot breeders will not easily be found via the Internet; they are mostly regular pet owners, rather than commercial setups, and many will be more than happy to network with owners interested in parrot breeding. You can always check with the pet store owners in your area and even leave your phone number in case there is someone interested in contacting you. You can also call the wildlife center in your area and check with them as well; they might be able to suggest parrot breeders somewhere nearby. Their recommendations are always valuable and useful, so you should try to benefit from their experience and knowledge. As I said before – patience and persistence, if you don’t find a nearby breeder to begin with don’t give up, you can still learn a lot from books and other resources.

Among the things you should definitely consider is the reputation of the parrot breeder. Many people have found themselves dealing with parrots that were purchased in the black market, so you need to make sure that the breeder you chose is reputable. Whenever possible try to speak with other owners who have purchased parrots from the breeder in the past and get references.

Once you find the right pair of parrots, you need to provide a breeding parrot nestbox and plenty of food for the hen; keep in mind that the female will need a additional food before laying. The nest box should be placed high in the aviary, and given as much privacy as possible.