Cleaning of nest

Question
I have a pair of breeding parakeets and I know a couple of the babies have hatched as I can hear them peeping.  Question is...should I attempt to clean out the box and risk disturbing the parents, or just leave it up to Mother Nature and let things take their course?  The parents are not tame at all.

Answer
Hello Joe! You may clean the nest box when ever you like. Mothers are good at pooping out side the nest but the babies messes cant be helped. Of course in the wild it would just sit there, but cleaning it out will ensure that your babies are healthy and that their nest is sanitized. Even if the mother is in their, just shoo her out and place the eggs on a towel or in a bowl. Many breeding females are very dedicated parents and will not abandon their eggs even if a hand reaches in. Unlike hamsters, if the eggs are touched(even though hamsters don't lay eggs ^^;) the mother will not kill them. I find it easiest using a small scoop such as a spoon and scooping out all the stuff and then putting a thin layer of shavings in the box. every week when the babies hatch, the nest should be cleaned out. My female know that when i open up the box its time to clean and she hops right out and as soon as i move away she goes right back in. good luck!