How do you know when your parakeets are ready to breed?

- Age: Parakeets are sexually mature at around 6-12 months, although some may not be ready to breed until they are older.

- Behavior: Breeding pairs will spend a lot of time together, preening each other, regurgitating food to each other, and building a nest. The male may also sing to the female and display his feathers.

- Physical signs: The female's cere (the fleshy area above the beak) will turn brown or crusty when she is ready to breed. The male's cere may also darken, although this is not as pronounced.

If you think your parakeets are ready to breed, you can provide them with a nest box and some nesting material, such as shredded paper or moss. They will then typically begin to build a nest and lay eggs within a few weeks.