New, and Need Advice

[Pride 0]

Hey guys,

 

i just joined today because i would like some info on breeding, my hen has layed 4 eggs and she layed the first one about 17 days ago. i was wondering also how long until they would hatch and also just today i noticed that she is not sitting on one of the eggs anymore. does this mean it is infertile or almost ready to hatch?

 

Apreciate any help thanks.

[**KAZ** 0]

Hi,

 

I just moved your post into a topic of its own instead of where you added it to another persons topic.

 

Incubation is generally 18-21 days from the time the hen decided to continuously sit and keep them warm. So you still have time.

Have you shone a torch light on the eggs to see if they are fertile ? If not......have they changed colour at all. Unfertile eggs will look peachy pink and fertile eggs go a solid white. Egg that have had a baby die inside will have dark staining to the white eggshell.

Not all hens......in fact most hens dont know if their eggs are fertile or not and even throw out perfectly good eggs with babies in them.

Hens also rotate eggs in and under them and out again and back in and under to regulate temperature. When you see one out.............doesnt mean it wont be back under her again next time you look. Try not to touch the eggs if you can help it.

 

PS welcome

[Pride 0]

Hi,

 

I just moved your post into a topic of its own instead of where you added it to another persons topic.

 

Incubation is generally 18-21 days from the time the hen decided to continuously sit and keep them warm. So you still have time.

Have you shone a torch light on the eggs to see if they are fertile ? If not......have they changed colour at all. Unfertile eggs will look peachy pink and fertile eggs go a solid white. Egg that have had a baby die inside will have dark staining to the white eggshell.

Not all hens......in fact most hens dont know if their eggs are fertile or not and even throw out perfectly good eggs with babies in them.

Hens also rotate eggs in and under them and out again and back in and under to regulate temperature. When you see one out.............doesnt mean it wont be back under her again next time you look. Try not to touch the eggs if you can help it.

 

PS welcome

 

 

thanks

 

no i have not shone a torch on the eggs but they all have a white colour and no black stains. Will the hen get stressed if i keep looking, i don't actualy open the breeding boxes because they have eaten a small hole in the bottom that i can see through.

[**KAZ** 0]

 

 

 

thanks

 

no i have not shone a torch on the eggs but they all have a white colour and no black stains. Will the hen get stressed if i keep looking, i don't actualy open the breeding boxes because they have eaten a small hole in the bottom that i can see through.

 

You need to be checking if babies are nearly due

 

read this.........

 

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/index.php?sid=48901&lang=en&action=artikel&cat=8&id=125&artlang=en

 

it will help

 

also you need to block that hole as a budgie ( adult or baby ) could injure itself with a hole like that or even a baby fall out of the nest. Draughts as well not good

 

Spare bit of wood with some wood glue on it and stick it over the hole

Edited October 22, 2010 by KAZ

[Pride 0]

thanks that website is a real help,

 

ill fix the whole immeadiately. i have had budgies for over three years and have not had much luck them. i bought some new ones from a different place after the others passed away and with in a week i had eggs, i am so excited. also how do you do the torch thing.

[**KAZ** 0]

thanks that website is a real help, Its not a website.......its our forums FAQ section and I wrote that article. Check out our FAQ section top left of page ( budgie FAQs )

 

ill fix the whole immeadiately. i have had budgies for over three years and have not had much luck them. i bought some new ones from a different place after the others passed away

You need to learn about quarantining new birds

and with in a week i had eggs, i am so excited. also how do you do the torch thing.

Candling eggs is shining the torch into the nest over each each......behind the egg pointing back to where you can see ( no need to remove or handle the eggs ) you will see red veins in newly fertile eggs and in ones due to hatch soon you will see two thirds to three quarters of the egg looking dar with the rest as an empty area.

No need to candle the eggs now as they are soon to hatch and you said they are white anyway

Edited October 22, 2010 by KAZ

[Pride 0]

thanks alot.

 

are there any other precautions i should take before they hatch.

[**KAZ** 0]

Make sure parents never run out of good quality food and water.

[Pride 0]

okay

 

i give them new seed and water every second day and i have also begun giving them some apple and lettuce.

 

P.S i was reading another blog and im sorry to hear about the loss of one of your baby budgies the other day

 

i'll make sure to post if they hatch.

 

hey everyone who reads feel free to talk about and post pictures of your baby budgies.

[splat 0]

Hi and welcome pride. Kaz has gave you some excellent advice, good luck with your breeding and hope your eggs are fertile

[Pride 0]

Thanks splat.

 

it has been 18 days since i first saw the eggs. today i saw Pride, my hen poke her head out of the breeding box. does this mean the eggs are about to hatch, or she has been sitting on infertile eggs or shewas just having a stretch.

 

appreciate any answeres thanks.

[Pride 0]

my hen just came fully out of her box. is this good or bad, im abit worried

[JimmyBanks 0]

Just a thought with lettuce, it isn't the greatest vegetable to give them as its nutrients arn't great, mainly water. Try giving it something else and add a calcium additive to your water too. It will help the chicks develop. Welcome to the forum. I look forward to seeing lots of pictures of your birds!

[Pride 0]

thanks jimmybanks ill do that, hopefully ill get my first chicks^_^

 

hey dellouisa i can see your reading this, do you have any ideas about why my hen came out of her box when i don't think the chicks have hatched yet

[Dellouisa 0]

Hey, you should check to see if the eggs are fertile. They may not be and this is why the hen has given up on them. Keep your eye on the hen to make sure she is well and isn't ailing in any way. If you had another nest at the same stage you could transfer any fertile eggs.

[Pride 0]

i don't have another nest and what should i be looking for to see ailing. also would a hen still sit with infertile eggs for 18 days like mine has?

[**KAZ** 0]

i don't have another nest and what should i be looking for to see ailing. also would a hen still sit with infertile eggs for 18 days like mine has?

 

Ailing..SICK......................look for signs she is thin or poopy bottom. What colour is her cere ?

 

 

Would she sit on unfertile eggs ? Yes she would ....they arent all that smart to know if they are fertile or not.

 

Have you candled the eggs ??

......what do you see ??

 

How about some photos ???

 

We can help you more opnce we can see with our eyes whats going on.

[Pride 0]

okay her cere is still brown and she looks the same as she always is , she was thin when i got her so i think that is just the way it is. would i startle the hen if i put my camera in and took apic? no i have not candled the eggs because she has been sitting on them and i didnt wan to disrupt.

[**KAZ** 0]

Candling the eggs means you know if the eggs are fertile or not and you dont have a hen sitting on dud eggs. A good plan if you want to breed budgies........learn to candle eggs.

Never put a thin hen down to breed.

 

Know a lot more about the birds you put down to breed before you do.

[Dellouisa 0]

okay well if she is back sitting on them, just let her do her thing. She does have to leave the eggs sometimes to have a stretch etc. Next couple of day you may have some additions.

[Pride 0]

i just have one big avairy so i didnt know they were going to pair up. also i know how to candle but how do i do it if the hen is on the eggs

[Dellouisa 0]

If you have other hens in this aviary, you will need to be very careful that one of them doesn't try to take over this nest. If this happens the new hen will MURDER the chicks. This is why the use of breeding cages leaves you much more in control for lots of reasons.

[Pride 0]

okay thanks, i have one other hen but i dont know that she well be a threat, she mainly sits in her own breeding box dreaming of the day!!

[JimmyBanks 0]

would i startle the hen if i put my camera in and took apic? no i have not candled the eggs because she has been sitting on them and i didnt wan to disrupt.

 

just don't use a flash... she'll be fine as long as you're not taking photo's every couple of hours.

[Pride 0]

thanks, thats good advice jimmy