One of the best things about having a pet is making sure your bird has a nice place to nest. Birds love having their own private, safe place to hang out. With the right nesting box, they can follow their natural urges to find safety and have babies. There are so many models out there that it can be hard to choose the right one for your aviary animal. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about bird nesting boxes so you can pick the best one for your pet.
Why Do Birds Need Nesting Boxes?
In the wild birds build nests for multiple purposes
- Shelter from predators and harsh weather
- A safe space to lay and incubate eggs
- A place to rest between periods of foraging and flight
Domesticated birds have the same instincts, but their cages don’t offer many secluded spots. A nesting box provides an enclosed, private shelter that makes birds feel secure.
Even birds that don’t lay eggs enjoy cozying up in nesting boxes for naps and alone time. The small, enclosed space appeals to their natural nesting desires. Providing an appropriate nest box will satisfy your bird’s needs and prevent problem behaviors caused by boredom or stress.
Key Features to Look For
When shopping for a nesting box keep these important criteria in mind
Appropriate Size
Choose a box whose inside measurements are the same size as your bird’s body. The bird should be able to move around and turn around without being squished. Don’t use boxes that are too big for your pet; they won’t feel safe and comfortable.
Proper Shape
The ideal shape depends on the type of bird. Round domes work well for finches and parakeets. Square boxes with rounded corners suit parrots. Canaries tend to prefer rectangular or oval-shaped nests.
Sturdy Construction
Opt for solid wood, ceramic, or thick plastic. Avoid thin, flimsy materials that could easily break and harm your pet. Durable boxes last longer.
Entry Hole Placement
The entry hole should sit near the top of the front panel. Birds prefer to enter nesting boxes from above. Size the hole according to your species’ body width.
Internal Perch
A small perch or landing pad inside the entrance makes it easy to get in and out. This is very important for birds that are heavier, like parrots.
Removable Roof
It’s easier to clean the box often when the lid can be taken off. If your bird is breeding, lifting roofs also let you keep an eye on the eggs and babies.
Proper Hanging Equipment
The package should include chains, hooks, or clips to install the box inside your bird’s current cage. Many models designed for small birds have a built-in hook.
Helpful Add-Ons and Accessories
You can further enhance your bird’s nesting experience by adding creature comforts:
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Nesting/Bedding Material – Line the bottom with safe, non-toxic shredded paper, cotton, or other cozy materials your bird can arrange into a nest shape.
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External Perch – A wooden perch mounted outside the entry hole gives your bird a place to land before entering.
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Removable Dividers – Interior partitions let you section off half the box for sleeping and half for nest-building.
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Nest Wool Basket – Attach a small container filled with nesting materials like woven grass strips, yarn, and feathers. Your bird can pull these items into the box as needed.
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Mirror – Affix a small mirror outside the entry hole to satisfy your pet’s social needs during nesting time.
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Bird Camera – Set up a compact camera to monitor your feathered friend without disturbing their privacy.
Top 5 Best Bird Nesting Boxes
With so many choices on the market, I’ve narrowed it down to the 5 best bird nesting boxes for cages:
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Yaheetech Wicker Nest – Attractive, durable, and well-ventilated. The removable bamboo roof makes cleaning easy. Perfect for cockatiels and similar species.
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Petsfit Pair of Birdhouses – Cute acorn-shaped boxes with interior perches, ideal for finches and canaries. Hooks for hanging included.
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PawHut Wood Breeding Box – Spacious design with triangular entrance suited for parakeets and parrots. Easy to disassemble for cleaning.
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SunGrow Cozy Box – Adorable little cottage charming for pet birds under 5 inches. Removable roof and cleanable.
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Prevue Hendryx Corner Nest – Unique triangular box with two entry holes. Durable plastic pan slides out for cleaning. Great for all types of small birds.
No matter what species of bird you own, adding a nesting box can greatly enhance their quality of life. Be sure to choose the right size, shape, and design to suit your pet’s preferences. With a cozy nest of their own, you’ll have a very happy feathered friend! Provide your aviary inhabitant with a place to indulge their natural instincts, and enjoy watching them thrive.
Should I provide my budgies with a nesting box?
Hi there! I’m quite new to owning birds but I’ve done a lot of research and made sure they didnt need anything. I have a two year-old female and a about one year-old male. The male is a new addition as I didn’t want to get chicks, but after seeing signs of loneliness with my two year-old female budgie, I decided to get one. He wasn’t tame when I bought him but we’ve become quite friendly with each other since his move. He has always liked to roam the floor of the cage, I think to look for dropped seeds or just to explore, and after he moved in with my female budgie she has also started to do so (she has never done it). The two of them has since the start been interested in each other, though I think my female was more direct in her aproach haha. Now it seems that he is starting to like her, and is trying to court her, she however doesnt seem to accept the beak tapping. She often bites him when he does something, but she also likes being fed and scratched by him. Should I get them a nesting box? Is that why they’re roaming the floor of their cage? (Are they looking for a good place to raise chicks?) I don’t want to encourage them to lay eggs, but I want to give them one if they do. I’m a little annoyed. Thank you in advance!.
Your male isn’t old enough to breed yet. Both birds should be at least two years old. Giving them a nest box might make her angry with him because she is older than him. He isn’t mature like she is, and she is already showing signs that she is mad at him for that. If her hormones kick in to the point that she wants to mate with a mature male, she could actually end up killing him because he is simply in the way. So it’s best to discourage any nesting or hormonal triggers. I would recommend some changes to help, at least until he is 2 years old. You also need to think hard about breeding, because it means you can’t handle them anymore. You basically end up with a pair of birds that need privacy and a lot of healthy foods. Then you have chicks to find homes for if they produce, because you can’t keep the offspring with the parents and you can’t keep related chicks together or they might try to breed. Breeding birds isn’t easy, and you are likely to lose eggs or chicks while the parents are learning. And some parents never get it right. So you have to be able to handle the down sides and understand you might never be rewarded with chicks. But of course if you are, it makes the hard work worth it.
You need to do all of these things to discourage egg laying & breeding behavior. Keep in mind that to lay eggs, she needs longer daylight, warmer weather, abundant food, and a quiet, private environment. Your goal is to reverse these conditions.
Limit their light to 8-10 hours by covering the cage early each evening
Do not give them anything to use as a nest – no bird huts or tents, no box, bowl, etc. If she decides to sit in a food bowl, remove it and replace with smaller cups.
Do not give them anything to shred such as paper or cardboard.
Rearrange the toys in the cage frequently.
Move the cage to a different place in the room. Move the cage about once a week, or whenever she shows signs of nesting – settling on the cage floor for example. This disrupts her idea of having a stable place to lay eggs and raise chicks.
If you feed a lot of fresh foods, stop offering any for a couple of weeks, and then only offer them in small amounts about 2 or 3 times a week. You can resume normal feeding later when the birds aren’t being hormonal.
If she is let out of the cage, do not let her get in any dark cozy places and don’t give her free roam.
When you handle them, limit any petting to only the head and neck – do not pet either bird on the body. Only a bonded mate is allowed to groom the body. We can’t be a mate, so touching the body is off limits.
If there is no metal floor grate, then do not use any bedding or paper in the cage tray – leave it bare and clean it daily.
Thank you for asking Lafeber,
Brenda Have a question?
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FAQ
What can I put in my bird cage for a nest?
As for nesting materials, the only safe material is all natural Aspen shavings. Never use pine, cedar or other shaving as they have aromatic oils that can be toxic to the birds. However, most parakeets still kick all the shavings out and prefer the bare wood.
What is the best nesting box for parakeets?
Nest boxes made out of wood are a perfect substitute. Parakeets don’t need much to breed in the wild, and a nest box with a dry floor area,lined with a soft nesting material to lay their eggs on will be fine.
What is the difference between a nesting box and a roosting box?
Should you put nesting material in a bird box?
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Not essential, but helpful:Birds are naturally inclined to find and use suitable nesting materials.
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Provides a starting point:Offering some natural materials can make it easier for birds to build their nests, especially if they are new to the area or haven’t found suitable materials yet.
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Avoid synthetic materials:Make sure any materials you provide are natural and not synthetic, as synthetics can be harmful to birds, according to Garden Wildlife Direct.
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Examples of suitable materials:Consider providing a few pieces of shredded paper, cotton wool, wood shavings, leaves, or grass, according to Garden Wildlife Direct.
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May be removed:Some birds may remove materials you provide if they prefer a different type of nest, according to Ivel Valley Wild Bird Food.