Hello. I have a problem with my female Budgie. About a 2 weeks ago I noticed my female had laid 2 eggs. She was sitting on them so I'm guessing they're chicks within. Now, when I went in to check on them while the mother was out of the nesting box, I found she had laid 4 more eggs, counting 6 total. By the way, there's only one female and one male in the cage. No more than that.

 

She still sits on them, but I'm afraid she won't stop laying eggs. And also, my female budgie is picking at her chest feathers, I believe. There is a very small, but bear, area where I think she has plucked her feathers off. Every so often when she leaves the nesting box I notice her picking at the feather-less area. If she's not better in the next couple days, she's going to the vet.

 

Is there any way to treat her chest-irritation (if that's what it is) and what about the egg-laying? Can anyone who is experienced on breeding budgies tell me the best course of action? I thank you so much in advance for a reply.

Hi. Budgies lay eggs every 2 days, this is why there are more now. They sit on the eggs to keep them warm. Some hens pluck down the front so that they have more body contact with the eggs. The feathers will grow back normally after she has finished incubating her clutch. This is perfectly normal behaviour, she is just trying to be a good mum.

 

The first egg should hatch 18 days after she started to sit on them and then every 2 days after that.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

Feathers.

Thank you so much! That helped a lot! But I still have a problem. Is she laying more eggs because the male is still having sex with her? If so, should I separate them? Because all together my hen has had around 10 eggs. Is that too much strain for her? Thanks again for a reply.

Don't worry. She will be fine. my 5 year old female laid 11 eggs and she is fine.

Don't seperate her from the male as she needs him to feed her and she will carry on laying eggs regardless of whether he is there or not, they just wouldn't be fertile that's all. Leave them be for now they are fine. Go read up about breeding budgies some more,

Edited February 6, 200718 yr by Sailorwolf

Don't think it is unusual to lay 10 eggs from a breeder I have known and other breeders on here. :greenb:

Thank you guys so much! I really appreciate it!

All appears to be normal behaviour with your hen. 10 eggs is a lot but you will find they probably wont all hatch out so there will be less strain on her. The plucking is normal for most of my hens who use their feathers to both line the nestbox and to have a better body temperature near the eggs. She is being a good Mum and YES you do need to keep Dad budgie in with her.

Good luck with all

Thank you all so much again! I believe my hen is lining her nesting box with the feathers. It's so amazing. Out of the ten eggs, though, one for sure is alive. It has the red vein within. But there's another egg in which I cannot tell. There's no vein, but I see no other signs of the egg being dead. Oh well, if my hen could have at least one living, breathing chick, I will be satisfied. Thanks again!

All sounds good

You might find this topic good reading http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....topic=13358&hl=

 

Cheers karen