Hi All

I have a question or two.

I don't think April and Big Fellow eggs are fertile.

So my Questions are

Should I take all the eggs out?

Do i leave them together to try again, Rest them or put with a different mate?

Thanks

Jillinda

Hi Jillinda,

 

I'd wait until it is at least 20 - 25 days after the last egg was laid, just in case. You can try them with a different partner if you so wish. More good advice is given in this FAQ: http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...d=25&artlang=en

 

Feathers.

Hi All

I have a question or two.

I don't think April and Big Fellow eggs are fertile.

So my Questions are

Should I take all the eggs out?

Do i leave them together to try again, Rest them or put with a different mate?

Thanks

Jillinda

 

Hi Jillinda.........how old are your birds? Have they ever bred before? it is not umcommon for a young bird to be inconsistent with her first clutch,,,,,,,,,so I wouldn't give up straight away.

 

I do agree with feathers though,,,,,,,wait a few days after the last egg is due to be hatched before you throw them out.

 

I have been caught like that.........crack an egg open thinking that it's well over due to fing there was a chick inside.

thanks Feathers and Paul,

I will leave them and wait. When i had a look with the torch they were clear with a little air pocket and i could see yellow from the yolk. The first egg was laid on the 21st March and the last on the 4th april.

This is their first time and mine at breeding them, April is 3 years old and Big Fellow is just over one.

I put these two together because they had paired up in the aviary.

Thank again

Jillinda

Hi Jillinda,

 

I don't know much about this, so someone may tell me i'm wrong ... but i think maybe your hen is too old, or on the older end of the scale... i understand 12 to 18 months to be the best age for breeding ... tho i'm not sure if its the age that affects fertility or ability to lay or associated complications ...

 

but on the egg front, i would definitely wait and see, depending on when you looked at the eggs, especialy the later ones as i think that it can take up to about 7 days to really see if there is something goin on inside (??)

 

Ains

I am sure that retiring a Breeding Hen is aroung the age of 4 - 5 years old..... But a breeder will confirm this for us.... Good luck with everything flower I hope it all runs smooth for you....

most hens are retired at age 3-4 but this when when they have been breeding twice a year from the age of 1. There can be some associated complications to the age such as egg binding. Saliorwolf a member here had her hen breed at age 5 (since she was in great shape and not drained from rounds of breeding at a younger age)

Hi

I have a hen who has always had trouble laying eggs and almost never fertile.

however if I take the eggs aways she just continues to lay some more - so now what I do and have successfully done 5 times now is swap a couple of her eggs with a new mum or her sister!

She is a very good mother and raises the others young very well.

 

I know I have been lucky where my birds are concerned because they have never rejected them.

Yeah Saffy, didn't exactly let me choose whether or not to breed from her (Laughing out loud), she decided to do it herself. And she had 6 very healthy babies. (she actually had 10 in total, but 4 died due to squashing by older chicks, or not being fed and one got kicked out. )