While I was cleaning out my budgie cage yesterday, I saw where the hen had laid an egg in--believe it or not--the water bowl!!!

 

Needless to say, I had absolutely no idea she was pregnant. She hasn't been acting differently, and she didn't appear to be particularly swollen.

 

Will the hen lay anymore eggs? Do I need to place a nesting box in the cage immediately? I think I'm still in disbelief that this whole thing is happening.

While I was cleaning out my budgie cage yesterday, I saw where the hen had laid an egg in--believe it or not--the water bowl!!!

 

Needless to say, I had absolutely no idea she was pregnant. She hasn't been acting differently, and she didn't appear to be particularly swollen.

 

Will the hen lay anymore eggs? Do I need to place a nesting box in the cage immediately? I think I'm still in disbelief that this whole thing is happening. :budgiedance:

Hi there,

hopefully I can answer some questions for you.

Firstly...how old is the hen and does she have a mate ? Some budgies will lay eggs without a partner and of course those ones arent fertile. Some hens too young will lay an egg anywhere.

A budgie should be at least 12 months old before you encourage them with a nesting box. Budgies will have recreational sex and even lay eggs in silly places. When you add the nesting box its like giving them permission to go ahead. Just because your budgie has laid an egg or is in the process of more doesnt mean she needs a nesting box to raise a family if you dont want that. Obviously cage size and type would come into play here and a whole lot of other considerations for you to help her have and raise a family.

She may well lay more eggs as they have a cycle of egglaying. If she does and you dont want her to have babies, and or she is too young or doesnt have a partner to fertilise the eggs, just leave them. Not the one in the water bowl of course. That egg would be no good now anyway as it got so wet. She will get tired of the eggs after awhile if they arent in a nest. If you keep removing them she will only lay more and that can affect her health.

Any more questions, I would be happy to help with.

Cheers Karen

Edited January 16, 200718 yr by Bubbles

Hi there,

hopefully I can answer some questions for you.

Firstly...how old is the hen and does she have a mate ? Some budgies will lay eggs without a partner and of course those ones arent fertile. Some hens too young will lay an egg anywhere.

A budgie should be at least 12 months old before you encourage them with a nesting box. Budgies will have recreational sex and even lay eggs in silly places. When you add the nesting box its like giving them permission to go ahead. Just because your budgie has laid an egg or is in the process of more doesnt mean she needs a nesting box to raise a family if you dont want that. Obviously cage size and type would come into play here and a whole lot of other considerations for you to help her have and raise a family.

She may well lay more eggs as they have a cycle of egglaying. If she does and you dont want her to have babies, and or she is too young or doesnt have a partner to fertilise the eggs, just leave them. Not the one in the water bowl of course. That egg would be no good now anyway as it got so wet. She will get tired of the eggs after awhile if they arent in a nest. If you keep removing them she will only lay more and that can affect her health.

Any more questions, I would be happy to help with.

Cheers Karen

 

Thanks for your help, Karen!

 

The hen is about 4 years old, and she has a male cagemate who is about the same age.

 

I'm actually excited about the idea of my two beloved budgies having babies, so if she is going to lay more eggs, I'll do whatever it takes to help her raise them. :budgiedance:

Edited January 16, 200718 yr by mirror saw

 

Hi there,

hopefully I can answer some questions for you.

Firstly...how old is the hen and does she have a mate ? Some budgies will lay eggs without a partner and of course those ones arent fertile. Some hens too young will lay an egg anywhere.

A budgie should be at least 12 months old before you encourage them with a nesting box. Budgies will have recreational sex and even lay eggs in silly places. When you add the nesting box its like giving them permission to go ahead. Just because your budgie has laid an egg or is in the process of more doesnt mean she needs a nesting box to raise a family if you dont want that. Obviously cage size and type would come into play here and a whole lot of other considerations for you to help her have and raise a family.

She may well lay more eggs as they have a cycle of egglaying. If she does and you dont want her to have babies, and or she is too young or doesnt have a partner to fertilise the eggs, just leave them. Not the one in the water bowl of course. That egg would be no good now anyway as it got so wet. She will get tired of the eggs after awhile if they arent in a nest. If you keep removing them she will only lay more and that can affect her health.

Any more questions, I would be happy to help with.

Cheers Karen

 

Thanks for your help, Karen!

 

The hen is about 4 years old, and she has a male cagemate who is about the same age.

 

I'm actually excited about the idea of my two beloved budgies having babies, so if she is going to lay more eggs, I'll do whatever it takes to help her raise them. :budgiedance:

okay. The its time to add a nesting box. Is the cage big enough for around 6 budgies or more ? As you may end up with that many when the babies fledge. Adding the nesting box to the exterior is best with the nestbox hole accessible from inside. You can do this by lifting a hatch door at the nestbox entry and attaching the nestbox to the side of the cage or breeder cabinet. They prefer the nestbox up higher rather than low too.

Be aware that 4 yrs old is getting to the limit of when a hen should be bred and prepare for any possible problems. Male can be bred a little longer than 4, to maybe 5.

Happy to answer any other questions for you.

Cheers karen

okay. The its time to add a nesting box. Is the cage big enough for around 6 budgies or more ? As you may end up with that many when the babies fledge. Adding the nesting box to the exterior is best with the nestbox hole accessible from inside. You can do this by lifting a hatch door at the nestbox entry and attaching the nestbox to the side of the cage or breeder cabinet. They prefer the nestbox up higher rather than low too.

Be aware that 4 yrs old is getting to the limit of when a hen should be bred and prepare for any possible problems. Male can be bred a little longer than 4, to maybe 5.

Happy to answer any other questions for you.

Cheers karen

 

 

I don't think the cage is big enough to comfortably fit more than 4 budgies, so I'm going to buy a bigger cage, and move them into it. New additions to the family warrant a bigger home, I suppose.

 

I wasn't aware that 4 years old was nearing the limit. The hen is my baby; I really don't want her health to be jeopardized. Anyway, I'm still waiting for egg #2, and it hasn't yet appeared. Maybe it won't.

 

Thanks again for your help, Karen.

There is a change with out a proper nesting site that she will not lay any more.

 

It's up to you and what you feel best is for your birds. Most full breeder stop the hens around 3-4 year becuase of breeding once or twice each year is work.

 

Read up a bit of issues with breeding them while you are thinking of it, before adding the box so you can gain a better idea of what can happen.

Edited January 18, 200718 yr by Nerwen

Well, we put a nesting box on the cage, and she never laid another egg, so I guess that one was the last. Part of me is disappointed, but another part of me is a little relieved.