Do Parakeets Mate For Life? Your Parakeet Mating Questions Answered.

You may have heard that most birds mate for life. And, as sweet and romantic as that sounds, most birds mate for practical reasons rather than out of love. The search for a new mate is not an easy task, it uses up a lot of valuable energy and time. This is especially the case for large birds and other birds which migrate. But what about parakeets?

Do parakeets mate for life? It's a common misconception that parakeets mate for life. In reality, they do not do this at all. In fact, you can think of them as monogamous only in the sense that one is usually mated to another at any given time. This article will teach you everything there is to know about how parakeets come together and raise their families!

Parakeets Should Be Kept In Pairs

While researching about your pet parakeet, you may have heard many times that “parakeets are social birds and should be kept in pairs.” Generally, this is true, and parakeets tend to do better with one other parakeet as companionship, and even two or more.

However, it is essential to note that not all parakeets are alike, so it's best to know your bird before making any decisions about housing them or their companions. If you decide that keeping two parakeets is the best option for you, you might have decided to go for two parakeets of the opposite gender.

New parakeet owners usually do so in the hopes that the pair will mate, which brings about a lot of parakeet mating questions. Do parakeets mate for life, how do parakeets mate, etc. Hopefully, this post answers these questions for you.

The Monogamist Parakeet

Although they do not mate for life, parakeets are monogamists. They do not usually mate with more than one at a time. They do, however, go through periods where they find themselves without a mate and are looking for love elsewhere.

While most parakeets will mate with only one partner at a time, some may have more than one brood per year, each with a new partner.

Most parakeets share parenting duties, with the female sitting on eggs while the male forages for food nearby.

What Is The Parakeet Mating Ritual?

Parakeets have mating rituals that are as bizarre as they sound. This includes the male parakeet puffing out his chest, doffing up his feathers, and shaking them about to impress a female partner.

The females will mimic this behavior and return with her own version of courtship rituals to get the attention of a mate she likes.

Some other parakeet mating rituals and behaviors include.

Male parakeets sing more to attract females.

Male parakeets sing loudly and broadly to show females that they are strong enough and able enough to guard territory. The best time for singing is early in the morning, so you might want to wake up around 5 a.m. if you're trying to hear their morning serenade.

They are showing off their colors.

Male parakeets in the wild take part in a spectacular display during the breeding season. Female birds are usually duller than males, which makes it less likely for them to be seen by predators.

Parakeets display their skills.

When a parakeet is mating, the female will likely choose males that display their fitness and strength.

Special dances

Parakeets and many other bird species engage in ritualistic displays of affection that serve to strengthen the bond between mates.

When Is The Parakeet's Mating Season?

In The Wild

In the wild, a parakeet's mating season typically begins around January and could last anywhere between February and June. Females will lay eggs once a year during this time period. She will lay an egg every other day until she has laid her clutch of 6 or 7 eggs, which usually takes around two to three weeks to complete.

Mating seasons are typically based on environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations which can affect a parakeet's hormone levels, so it is important to monitor parakeets' behavior closely.

After mating, parakeets will spend their next three to four weeks incubating their eggs.

In Captivity

In captivity, you should make sure to provide your pet with a nest for breeding and provide both male and female parakeets with food that is high in protein and fat content.

How Long After Mating Do Parakeets Lay Eggs?

Parakeets lay eggs with an average incubation period of 18 days. The time it takes for a parakeet to lay an egg depends on the individual bird as different animals have differing reproductive cycles.
The gestation periods are often similar between related species (possibly due to convergent evolution), so one can infer that the Parakeets also share this trait and their approximate gestation lengths should be 18 days.

Some sources note that this time is longer than two weeks, while others state they can take up to 24 days. There remains uncertainty of how long after mating parakeets can lay eggs, though if previous information is taken into account, it would occur around 19-21 days of gestation.

What Happens When My Parakeet's Mate Dies?

What do parakeets do when their mate dies? When a parakeet's mate dies, it can become very depressed and may do one of two things: stay at the nest on its own or find a new mate.

If your bird seems to be mourning its fallen mate, it's important not to change his/her routine as any sudden changes can make them feel distressed and worsen its depression. You will notice that he/she is mourning with some tell-tale signs such as;

• Loss of appetite or hunger strikes.
• Constant calling out for the lost mate.
• Looking around the cage for the lost mate.
• Loss of interest in its surroundings.

If your bird has lost a mate, let him/her know that you're there for them by talking to them often or providing time to hang out together. When they want alone time, be patient.

If they have access to other parakeets, it is fairly common for parakeets to find new mates. When the female finds another male, she often will do what's called “pairing up” with him shortly thereafter and start building their own nest together.

How To Support Your Parakeet

When your parakeet loses a mate, just like humans, they need to be distracted positively and comforted. You can start by offering your parakeet treats more frequently, spending more time together, or buying new toys (you can just rotate some old ones or make new some).

Now is a very important time for you to bond and play with your parakeet. Your parakeet will value the bonding process more than it would you throwing a brand new bird in the mix. This brings us to the next point…

Should I Replace a Parakeet's Lost Mate?

If your parakeet's mate has just died, it is likely he/she will be grieving. This process can take anything from a few days to a few weeks, and even then, there should be no hurry to replace their lost mate.

Oftentimes, a parakeet will begin to act out while mourning, which is completely normal. If you introduce a new friend too soon, they might respond negatively by attacking the parakeet, which they will now perceive as a threat.

Keep in mind if your parakeet may bite you if he gets really upset!

Additionally, if the parakeet has other companions and seems to be coping well, there's no need to replace their lost mate just yet.

Again, if your parakeet has lost its mate, consider this an opportunity to spend more time with your parakeet – they will enjoy the company and familiarity.

Introducing A New Mate

If you feel that your parakeet is getting lonely, eventually, the time might come where you feel you should get a new friend for your him/her.

When this happens, you will need to take care when introducing a new friend, so they do not feel threatened or react aggressively toward them. This is always recommended when introducing a new bird. You will need to make sure the environment is ready so both parakeets can get along peacefully. 

Conclusion

We've covered a lot of ground on parakeets mating and bonding rituals. Now you know all about the mating process, from courtship to nesting to raising chicks! 

Most importantly, you now know that parakeets are monogamists, meaning they don't mate for life but are with one mate at a time. Your parakeet will have invested a lot of emotion into its mate, so when a parakeet dies, it's important to make sure the surviving member of the pair is still active and engaged so as not to let depression take over.

Give your pet plenty of attention and try bonding activities like grooming or playing games together.