Colony Parakeets

[Okla-doodle-doo]

Has anyone tried raiseing parakeets colony style in a large outside cage in warm weather? I have been thinking of trying this. Wondering if just a roof overhead would be suffecient cover for them. Anyone have pics of such a setup?

 

[markbirds]

I have in the past... just make sure that you have atleast 2 more nest boxes then pairs.

 

[AquaEyes]

Do you intend to breed, or just house them together? Either way, look on youtube. There are a bunch of outdoor budgie aviaries on there.

 

[ShanCarl1971]

I'm new to the forum (and chickens), but I raised hookbills for 15 years. Parakeets do pretty well in an outdoor colony situation, as long as you provide some warmth in the coldest of winters. Just make sure you have more nest boxes than hens and can protect food and nestboxes from the weather.

As far as a roof in concerned, I think it's important that the birds have some area of their flight to be able to get out in the sunshine and the rain. It makes a HUGE difference in their feather condition and over-all well being. I also made sure that all of my birds had a wind-protected section, although most will go into their nestboxes in the harsh weather. My flight cages were long and narrow, going from nest box, to wind prtection, to covered area, to comppletely open area.

I used to stand at my kitchen window and watch my birds showering in the rain.....so cute!! And a macaw showering in the rain is impressive, with their huge wing span displayed!!!!

Sorry I don't have any pics..... those days are LONG gone!! LOL

 

[ChicksterJo]

My dad keeps his parakeets "colony" style outdoors in a large walk-in cage and they seem to do fine. Although it is a little difficult to tame them in my experience. Our summers are very hot but our winters can get quite frosty and cold and they seem fine. There are some areas of the cage that are open to the sky (the top is covered by hardware cloth) and most areas are covered from the wind and rain.