two females bonding a little too much

Question
QUESTION: I know. How would I know how much is too much since I am not a budgie. We have two budgies - one is 5 and the other is 2 and they have been together since the 2 year old was accepted by the older bird. Both birds appear to be females - the cere of one is brown and the cere of the other is a purplish red. For the last little while they have been doing the "mating" dance - feeding each other and even mounting each other. My biggest concern is egg binding and will the "hen" attempt to lay an egg if there is not nest box in the cage.

ANSWER: Hi, Michelle.

Definitely one bird is female with the brown cere, however, you may have a male versus another female.  A purplish red cere could go either way.  When there is a budgie with a cere that could go either way, sexing is often determined by behavior because the birds know what sex both are!  Since one is feeding the other and also mounting the other (this would be the male bird), you could have a pair-bonded male/female.  If they are both feeding each other and both mounting each other, well, who knows!

Some budgies will lay their eggs whether a nesting box is present or not.  Some lay in the feed dishes, some on the cage bottom, etc.  Egg binding won't be a problem if your birds have sufficient calcium.  Egg binding results from soft-shelled eggs that can't be expelled by the female.  If you've provided a cuttlebone and feed your birds healthy and nutritiously, calcium deficiency (egg binding) shouldn't be a concern.  

You'll just have to wait and see if one lays an egg.  If you don't want these birds to lay eggs, limit their available light to 8-10 hours per day and remove anything in their cage that resembles a nest of any sort.  If they lay, let me know and we'll handle that situation.

Chrys

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Chrys:
I will keep you posted with respect to the egg laying situation. My biggest concern is we live such busy lives- are we going to be around enough to help these birds with their offspring should this be the result.
We never thought this was a possibility because we really thought they were both females and we do not have a nesting box in the cage. Will we have to separate them now if they have pair-bonded?
I am not sure if I have made myself clear as I am at work on my break and I hope I have given you enough information.

Thanks again.

Michelle( Para and Kiwi too!!!!)

Answer
Hi again, Michelle.

I'm sorry I can't be more positive of the sex of the one bird.  Watch the bird's behaviors when they are together.  You may have to hide in order to see their true behavior, as birds tend to act differently when their humans are watching.  Often times, you can judge sex by behavior.  See if one if beak-feeding the other.  This usually indicates a male feeding the female.  Do this first before assuming eggs/offspring are on the way.  You may have 2 females afterall.  If eggs are laid and you can't handle this, there's ways to handle the situation.  Yes, you would need to be available to possibly deal with offspring, particularly if you want them to be tame enough to get rid of/handle.  An avian vet can give a hormone injection to stop egg laying for months at a time.  You can help by keeping available light sources down to 8-10 hours per day for the birds.  

Separating them if they are bonded depends on their sexes.  Two females can be buds, but not be pair-bonded.  Depends on if one is beak-feeding the other.  This would tell me one is a male, but I'd still have to see egg(s) to convince me 100%.  A bonded pair can also be kept together and never lay eggs...just depends on the birds and their environment.  

One step at a time!

Chrys