Kazoo

Hi: I had sought advice a few weeks ago about my hen Kazoo, who was laying eggs at the bottom of her cage. I just had some recent activity to add, with a couple of questions. Kazoo laid two more eggs the night before last. One got smashed. She laid them at the bottom of the cage again, despite the nice and ready nesting box. I picked up the egg with a spoon and placed it in the nesting box atop shavings. Then I added the other three eggs (I know it's been too long for them to be viable, but my goal was to get her in the nesting box for the one viable egg left). After the eggs were inserted, her response was interesting -- She kept bobbing her head back and forth between peering into the nesting box, then looking at me. I said, "yep, those are your eggs. Better get in there," and left. When I peered in through the glass door twenty minutes later, she was in the box, sitting on the eggs! Now I am guessing that those other 3 eggs couldn't survive. In fact, I could see from pics. posted on the site that 2 of them weren't fertile. But there is hope for that egg laid the day before yesterday, isn't there? And what about the third egg that's been in a container for a week?

I hope members will excuse me posting twice in a row. I just had some recent activity to add. Kazoo laid two more eggs the night before last. One got smashed. She laid them at the bottom of the cage again, despite the nice and ready nesting box. I picked up the egg with a spoon and placed it in the nesting box atop shavings. Then I added the other three eggs. She kept bobbing her head back and forth between peering into the nesting box, then looking at me. I said, "yep, those are your eggs. Better get in there," and left. When I peered in through the glass door twenty minutes later, she was in the box, sitting on the eggs! Now I am guessing that those other 3 eggs couldn't survive. In fact, I could see from pics. posted on the site that 2 of them weren't fertile. But there is hope for that egg laid the day before yesterday, isn't there? And what about the third egg that's been in a container for a week?

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate you taking the time to respond. If anything exciting happens, I'm sure I'll have more questions to pry you all with...

Thanks Kate and Kaz: Now that the nesting box is up, I think I'll leave it where it is. There is a parallel perch to provide easy access to the hole. But since I used the opening for the cage doors, which are at the front of the cage, I will put something up to block viewing so that this whole wall is private for them. I still have access from two side doors. I've been trying to inspect her vent area for signs of another egg, but I didn't see anything this morning.

Hi Kaz: No, I hadn't, obviously. Nesting box now securely rigged outside cage, with access from within. Eggs stored in a safe place, ready to add to nest within nesting box if she lays again. Is it for certain she will lay another egg? Or do hens vary in the number of eggs they lay?

Thanks, Dave I will watch for more eggs. Are there always more than 3?

I don't have an answer for you, but I'm in the same boat, so will follow your thread. Good luck!

I'm the one who had 3 eggs at the bottom of the cage. Stage 2: So I got a nesting box and put it in the cage, along with some shavings for nesting material. I had to carefully spoon lift one egg out of the way to make room for the box, which is black and scary looking I think, but I couldn't find any others in town. That was yesterday morning. I was careful to leave them alone, but I peeked through the closed door (I could see through the glass) several times and the hen seems to have abandoned the eggs, whereas before she was trying to sit on them but they were rolling all over. I can see that she hasn't turned the eggs since the nestbox was inserted yesterday morning or sat on them. Because they are in exactly the same spot as before. Does this mean it's over? Is there anything else I can do?

Thanks: think I'll get out my tools this weekend

Hi Kaz: Many thanks. I will follow this advice.

Hi: I have a 5 year old cock and a 1+ yr hen. One egg was laid on Monday, another on Tuesday, and the third today. There is no nest. They are at the bottom of a large cage. The hen has been turning them. they are situated in an office with a closed door, consistent temperature and privacy. I have read several articles here on breeding at this stage. I'd like to keep the eggs if they turn out to be fertile: yes, I am prepared to hand feed and vet. I'm 41 years old and have had 4 budgies - never more than 2 at a time. I am willing to keep these two. How can I best prepare for the hatching, given the info I've provided. They are on a fortified seed diet. Thanks in advance.