PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF BUDGERIGAR (Melopsittacus undulates) PRODUCTION IN CHITTAGONG, BANGLADESH

Abstract

The study investigated the production status, problems and prospects of budgerigar production in Chittagong, Bangladesh following survey and multistage sampling procedure. Average flock size, weight of a male and female were 50±4, 45.30±2.50 gm and 48.5±3.5 gm respectively. Commercial, homemade and both homemade and commercial feed were used by 21.74%, 30.43% and 47.83% farmers, respectively. Both male and female attained puberty at 5.22±0.88months, a female laid 28.46±0.78 eggs per annum and weight of each egg was 6.13±0.63 g. Fertility and hatchability of eggs were 60±3 and 75±1%, respectively. Male and female ratio maintained 1:1. Main reasons of lower hatchability were low egg fertility, faulty incubation, and both low egg fertility and faulty incubation as per 50.0%, 21.7% and 28.3% farmers, respectively. Main advantages of budgerigar rearing over other psittacine birds were low disease, high market price, low feeding cost and low mortality according to 41.3%, 28.3%, 17.4% and 13.1% farmers, respectively. While 36.9% farmers had encountered disease, 80.4% had not used vaccine. A pair of baby chick and an adult were sold at BDT 700.2±1.79 and 1500.2±22.8 respectively. In fact, budgerigar production is still at primitive stage which is characterized by poor housing, feeding, breeding and healthcare practices.So, vigorous public extension service, training, research and marketing strategies are immediately needed to improve this sector in Chittagong, Bangladesh.