I have a hen that has laid 4 eggs now. The first one I found in the bottom of her cage and cracked. The second was unfortunately sabotaged by the other female before I could get them separated out. The 3rd was laid Tues and the 4th sometime today. She does not seem all that interested in them at this point and only seems to really use the nest box when she is laying, then comes out to hang in the cage with Tucker, her mate.

 

When can I expect her to actually sit the eggs and start the incubation process. How do you know when she is finished laying her clutch. Sorry for all the questions, but these eggs will be my first babies if all goes well.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Snip

I have a hen that has laid 4 eggs now. The first one I found in the bottom of her cage and cracked. The second was unfortunately sabotaged by the other female before I could get them separated out. The 3rd was laid Tues and the 4th sometime today. She does not seem all that interested in them at this point and only seems to really use the nest box when she is laying, then comes out to hang in the cage with Tucker, her mate.

 

When can I expect her to actually sit the eggs and start the incubation process. How do you know when she is finished laying her clutch. Sorry for all the questions, but these eggs will be my first babies if all goes well.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Snip

They will start to sit around the 3rd egg or so, but every hen is different. She will continue to come out and mate until she has decided her clutch is the right size for her. The egglaying is finished when no more eggs show up with 2 days between each egg.

They will start to sit around the 3rd egg or so, but every hen is different. She will continue to come out and mate until she has decided her clutch is the right size for her. The egglaying is finished when no more eggs show up with 2 days between each egg.

 

 

Would she be pretty much ignoring the box and eggs if she knew they were not fertile, or is that normal for them to spend so much time away from them except when she feels the urge to go lay another?

 

Assuming they are infertile, how long before you remove them and the nest box to keep her from exhausting herself laying them?

 

Thanks.

Edited April 13, 200718 yr by Snip

Sometimes they know and sometimes they don't. There are members that have budgies that lay eggs with no mate and lay on them.

 

Here is information from our FAQ section

Are the eggs fertile http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...d=25&artlang=en

They will start to sit around the 3rd egg or so, but every hen is different. She will continue to come out and mate until she has decided her clutch is the right size for her. The egglaying is finished when no more eggs show up with 2 days between each egg.

 

 

Would she be pretty much ignoring the box and eggs if she knew they were not fertile, or is that normal for them to spend so much time away from them except when she feels the urge to go lay another? No she wouldnt be, at this stage, ignoring the eggs and box for those reasons. She will sit when she is ready. Eggs dont begin to incubate until the hen starts sitting and keeping the temperature right. Until then they are dormant

 

Assuming they are infertile, how long before you remove them and the nest box to keep her from exhausting herself laying them? most hens remove them themselves once the time has passed and they know they are infertile

 

Thanks.

 

Try to be patient

Let Nature take it course, All should be well... Good luck

Thanks for all the info and the FAQ updates on the site here are great. Patience was never one of my strongest traits, but Im learning.

 

I think it is the mom instinct, but forwarned is forarmed and knowing what to expect is half the battle. I will keep you all posted on the progress.

 

Thanks again.

Snip (the worry wart)

First egg laid the 10th, second on the 12th. None laid since Thurs, but no sitting....

 

Now what? Incubator? I dont have a foster.

 

Thanks.

Snip

Hi Snip, it may well be too late, but I am no expert, so don't take my word on it. Here is the FAQ regarding incubating eggs:

 

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...d=59&artlang=en

 

Feathers.

Hi Snip, it may well be too late, but I am no expert, so don't take my word on it. Here is the FAQ regarding incubating eggs:

 

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...d=59&artlang=en

 

Feathers.

 

 

Nothing saying how long they can still be "good" eggs without the incubation process getting started, though I did find mention of the eggs being Dormant till they are sat. Unfortunately nothing about how long they can be dormant before you take over the incubation process.

 

I am really just hoping that she knows they arent fertile and that is why she hasnt bothered with them, but she may just be an inexperienced mom as this is her first clutch.

 

I was just so excited about the potential for babies.

 

If anyone has ideas, Im all ears.

 

Snip

Do you happen to know of any one else that is breeding budgies at the moment. If you did, you could try transfering the eggs to one of their hens to foster. [shrugs] It's the only thing I can think of, other than trying to incubate them yourself using a box and a lamp.

 

 

Feathers.

Do you happen to know of any one else that is breeding budgies at the moment. If you did, you could try transfering the eggs to one of their hens to foster. [shrugs] It's the only thing I can think of, other than trying to incubate them yourself using a box and a lamp.

 

 

Feathers.

 

I do have a small incubator I bought last year. It is definately nothing fancy. I'll give it a shot. Being she isnt paying any attention to them at the moment, it certainly cant hurt.

 

Snip