I really think something big needs to change with you and your birds. Your mama is on her third clutch in a row, maybe working on trying for a fourth... older babies are starting to act hormonal (which can and will turn into inbred babies if allowed). Something needs to change, bigtime. I know you care so much for your birds and you do so much for them but so far, nothing has changed and your birds keep breeding and now babies are getting older and closer to being able to breed themselves... I feel like you're on the edge of a minor disaster here.

I think you need to start with the most drastic measure to 100% ensure no further babies (until you're ready and prepared for more) and that's going to require some really difficult decisions and hard work. In my eyes, it seems like the main alternatives right now are to either completely separate each gender of adult and young adults and/or rehome all but a few of just one gender only. I know that's not an easy solution but something has to change and really soon otherwise... well, it just seems like it's going to go bad and you have enough on your plate already.

Good luck to you and I really hope you're able to find a solution soon to ensure no further babies for a good long while.

I agree with Cloudy Skies... you need to sort out your birds...
They are nearly at the point of overtaking you...
Give some away, sell some and make sure they don't breed again for a while..
Why don't you keep 2 girls and 2 boys, in separate cages, this way they wont breed till you want them too..
Something has to give... I guess your trying, but its getting out of hand for you.
Sorry if this post seem harsh, but its a worry, for you and the birds.

They can mate with each other as young as three months, although the youngest that's happened in my flock was five months. I once heard a two month old baby make the hen mating cry when her vent accidentally got pressed against the edge of a food cup. She wasn't even completely weaned yet! They start very young, but it's not healthy for them to breed at this age even with an unrelated bird. In the wild the conditions aren't suitable for breeding most of the year so they wouldn't be led into temptation this quickly.

thanks everybody for opinions. I am about to remove the box in a few days. I don't see mom bothering dad about mating, she just doesn't take much care of her last clutch. I will watch older kids. I know my experience is little but I seriously doubt it would go as far as mating (plus, we can always boil eggs if it comes to the eggs, etc). I don't even know their gender 100% (just guessing), except for differently colored birds. Do you suggest to separate parents rehoming them? I still have 5 babies in the nest who I hope will be fed a little bit longer.

I think its confusing for parents to have some babies out of the nest and following them. That's I think the reason why they don't come to the kitchen to eat as much as before. One flew to the kitchen after them, and was sitting on the rod while big birds were eating on the table. After this, father flew to the nest to feed babies in the nest, while that fledgling stayed in the kitchen completely confused. A lot of confusion. But this is what many people go thru with double clutch, right?

the birds are out of cage birds for the most part of the day. They would go crazy if I keep them caged all of a sudden. I don't even have so many cages (I have 2 right now)
I don't quite understand about keeping "2 boys, 2 girls" - which ones? for the next 4 weeks (at least) I am having 5 babies who will need their parents. Of course, the ones to rehome would be the older clutch, but I don't want to rush with it and make a bad decision just because I am overwhelmed. I already had a bad experience when I rehomed pets in a hurry and it ended up tragically for them

What has changed that will keep mom from wanting to have another clutch? I guess that's what I'm referring to, is that it sounds like you still have hormone control issues (since older babies are starting to act frisky), so how are you going to keep another clutch from happening at this point?

I don't know anything about caring for breeding birds or caring for chicks, but is it possible to safely remove either mom or dad from the picture entirely with the baby chicks, to allow just one of them to finish raising the babies and remove the risk of any mating?

It seems clear you need to still focus on the little ones, making sure they're getting what they need to be healthy but you also need to take a mental step back and look at the entire picture. Your flock, your cage setup, your night-time hours, etc. Also, it seems like the only 100% sure way to keep more babies from happening is to completely remove all access of females from males (the older babies and mom and dad). It seems like once you can take a breather from having tiny babies to care for, you can focus on the bigger picture, i.e. what to do with all the birds you have and also take care of your family and school, etc.

For example, if you intend on keeping all of your birds, is it possible to build an aviary of sorts that you can have a separate boys side and girls side? Or if you intend on finding homes for them, perhaps focus on finding homes for the youngest first since they may be the easiest to rehome and then you can figure out what to do with all your older birds.

Once you have only weaned babies and older birds in the picture, it will be easier to figure out what your plan is and go from there. Unless something drastic changes right now, though, I can't see what would stop mom and dad from having another clutch and then you're starting all over and instead on focusing on the bigger picture, you'll have to devote all your time and attention on the health of the tiny babies again, you know? And yes, you can boil the eggs, etc, but you what stopped you from doing that before?

I don't know, I feel like this is all coming out sounding aggressive or whatever and I don't mean that to, that's totally not my intent. And I'm worried I sound like a total turd because I know nothing about breeding, but I can't help but want to... help, you know? I think you've done an awesome job with the clutches you've had and all the trials and tribulations involved, especially with all the other responsibilities you have on your plate.

This is the exact thing I'm referring to. Once you don't have tiny ones that take up so much of your time and focus, you can figure out these bigger issues. And yes, it is going to be hard. I don't see an easy out here for you. But if something drastic isn't changed, then you are going to be up to your armpits in in-bred babies within 6 months... at least, this is how it seems to me based on your situation as you've described.

If you keep the boys in the cage 100% of the time while the girls are out and vice versa, yes, it will suck because they will be grouchy and loud and whatnot but just because our kids don't like getting their shots or going to the dentist, we don't actually let that influence our decision on doing so, right? Because we know what's best even if they don't like it.

Right now, it sounds like the birds are in control and that is not healthy. You need to be in control because they can't make proper decisions for themselves (like not having clutch after clutch and brothers not mating with sisters or mom or dad or what have you).

Edit: Also, I disagree that the older babies need homes first. I think it would be easier to find homes for the younger babies since I think they'd be more desirable? Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Since they're not weaned yet, you have time to get that sorted out, it won't be a rushed decision on finding them homes.

Have you googled to see if there is a bird club in your area? If there is and if they have monthly meetings or whatever, maybe you can attend one and ask for advice.

But back to my main point (sorry, I know I sound like a broken record here), something needs to change now, as in, this week or the next or else you're risking yet another clutch.

Someone, please correct anything I'm saying here if it is just totally wrong of whatever. I'm totally talking out of my rear-end here since I know nothing bout this baby biz.

I can tell what going to change this week - the box will be gone! Without a box, there is no survival for any eggs if there are any (which, again, not necessarily going to happen).

Older babies are still cute babies who are well adapted to life, which would make them more desirable for me personally.

I know my parents birds better now. If hen wanted another clutch, she would be bothering the cock but she doesn't. By the way, both parents eat soft food much better today and both attend to the babies to feed them.

I don't know about the club, but we have a bird store who takes babies as early as 3 weeks. Then they clip their wings and sell them when they are weaned. I don't want to go this way

PS I no way argue with you, Cloudy skies.

Except birds who are mating and laying eggs (and nobody does neither one), there is so much more that is necessary for the happening of the babies.

I thought it would be irresponsible to later rehome the parents because they are 100% my birds. It would certainly be easier though