Getting Started with Breeding Ringnecks

First of all you need to pick the right cage. Ringnecks require a minimum cage size of 24in x 24in x 48in. The front of the cage should be 24x24 with feeding stations. The depth should be 48inches with the nest box installed outside at the back of the cage. There should be a perch about 1.5-2in in diameter 6-8in from the back wall and just below the opening to the nest box. The logic behind such a setup is that the nest box should be farthest from human approach during feeding times. Birds feels secure in such an environment and are more likely to breed. The illustration below shows this setup. The mesh used for the cage should be rectangular weld mesh and not expanded metal mesh as shown in the picture.

The nest box should be filled with white pine shavings 3in deep. The cage should be protected from direct wind and prolonged exposure to sun. While sunlight is great for birds, a shaded area in the cage should always be available to them.

Once you have the setup in place, you may proceed to buy birds. I recommend buying 1 year old birds that have gone through their first annual molt. At this age most males start showing their neck rings and sexing becomes easy in most mutations. Buying adult pairs carries the risk of getting birds that are too old or are problems breeders with poor history. The ideal time to buy in Pakistan is July-August. Birds bought in these months have enough time to pair up and settle down for the breeding season that begins in December-January and lasts until April-May. Birds bought and set up later than this may or may not breed in the upcoming season.

Ringnecks will usually lay a clutch of 4-5 eggs. The eggs hatch in 23-24 day. If you prefer to hand feed the chicks you may remove the chicks at the age of 2-3 weeks. If chicks are removed and there is sufficient time remaining in the season, the pair will usually proceed to lay another clutch in about 3-4 weeks.

Once the breeding season is over, I flock all my ringnecks into a large flight. I recommend this practice as the birds enjoy the freedom and build themselves up for the next season.

These are the basics of breeding the Indian ringnecks. If you have a related question, feel free to post it here.