Our pet budgies have been mating an awful lot recently and the hen has laid 2 eggs on the bottom of the cage, which have both been eaten by both parents. There are no other birds in the cage.
She has taken to sitting in her large food container most of the day, and is fed by her mate. She does come out occasionally to feed, but spends most of her time in her food pot.
She looks as though she might be ready to lay again as she has a swollen bottom, but there are no eggs in the container.
She is also plucking the feathers from her bottom.
What is going on? They are 6 years and 3 years old and have lived together for 3 years with no incidents of mating or nesting.
Thank you
2006-12-14 00:52:19 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Birds
Provide a nesting box , nesting material isn't required as she will most likely chuck it out of the box anyway although wood shavings do make the box easy to clean when its full of little chicks, just make sure the shavings are not dusty and are untreated (can purchase shavings from a pet store)
The hen will become quiet during breeding and it will become the job of the **** (sometimes a few) to feed her during this time.
A swollen vent is a typical sign of a bird about to lay so get that box in there ASAP also the vent swells when they are in breeding condition which gives the appearance of it being plucked..
My best breeding pair took 4 years together before they first decided it seemed like a good idea, so maybe they have only just worked out what its all about LOL
You can make up an egg mix to feed to them (they will all love it) and it will be easy for her to be fed and to digest, its also really great for when the babies come along and they have extra mouths to feed.. http://www.javafinch.co.uk/egg/eggndx.html
Also you could add some vitamins to there water, just make sure its changed daily..
2006-12-14 10:46:18 · answer #1 · answered by ~Ozy~ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perfectly normal.
Eating eggs is habit forming so they are likely to do this again.
Put the hen on a wire mesh. You need to break the broody habit by making it uncomfortable to nest in one place. Without the eggs reaching full term, it is possible that the hen will sit there and starve herself.
"horsegirl" (above) ...you teacher was wrong. i've been raising chickens for years and its not due to calcium deficiency. Its a habit forming practice that you need to break otherwise they will all do it once they reach point of lay. The prompt for such activity is normally stress or poor nesting facilities. See the main question here, the hen laid eggs and there was no dark, quiet nesting box - it causes stress.
Other forms of stress are light, noise and vermin in the night.
The best way to cure this problem is to remove the source of stress, collect eggs regularly ( several times a day if you can - you'll get used to thier laying time ). If the eaters continue, isolate them so they don't spread the habit to others.
"those that can't - teach"
2006-12-14 01:02:56 · answer #2 · answered by Michael H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes both can eat a hard boiled egg. The birds can handle the shell still on the egg for the added calcium, I wouldn't really recommend it for the dog though. But the egg will be a great source of protein for both.
2016-05-24 01:56:31 · answer #3 · answered by Christie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just have her checked to make sure she isn't egg bound, and provide them with a nestbox and nesting material.
I'm afraid they're unlikely to hatch any chicks as the egg eating is a difficult habot to break. The box will just let themgo through their normal behaviour.
You could try putting the cage somewhere quieter.
2006-12-14 02:09:37 · answer #4 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you may have 2 females,i have a cockateil and a budgie ,and the budgie often nests and lays eggs but of course they are not fertile and the birds then eat the eggs its a,good source of calcium for them
2006-12-14 00:57:50 · answer #5 · answered by dumplingmuffin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need a nesting box.. i put one in with my parakeets and the female laid 6 eggs, never ate any and hatched all but one... the male fed her all the time she was in nesting box.. i also hand fed my male scrambled egg which he took to the female...it was a very interesting thing to be part of and watch... get a nesting box and you will have better results
2006-12-14 00:57:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they need calcium. i have 7 chickens and my hen laid her first egg about 2 weeks ago. i walked down there to check on them and she was running around with the egg shell in her mouth. (a very funny sight) i asked my agriculture teacher an he said she needed calcium so try giving them a calcium supplement and see what happens.
2006-12-14 01:01:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds sad. Maybe you should seek proffessional advice for your budgies?
id keep an eye on her for the next couple of days. plus if she has more eggs, maybe you should part both birds while it hatches?
2006-12-14 00:58:53 · answer #8 · answered by geminially 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get one of the eggs that is no good and put spicy mustard on the egg it will stop them from biting the eggs
2006-12-16 02:29:03 · answer #9 · answered by krazykitten31@verizon.net 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋