I think that I have a cannibalistic budgie. She's layed at least one egg that I've seen, possibly more, but the eggs are going missing, no real sign that they existed. Is it more likely to be the hen or the cock? I've not run into this problem before and uncertain as to what if anything that I can do about it. would seperating the pair work? or am I missing something. they have cuttlefish, shell grit, seed, regular fruit and grass given.

Edited April 21, 200718 yr by Kaz

I think that I have a cannibalistic budgie. She's layed at least one egg that I've seen, possibly more, but the eggs are going missing, no real sign that they existed. Is it more likely to be the hen or the cock? I've not run into this problem before and uncertain as to what if anything that I can do about it. would seperating the pair work? or am I missing something. they have cuttlefish, shell grit, seed, regular fruit and grass given.

 

 

I am sure she is lacking calcium, that is why she is eating the eggs.... How old is she???

More experienced members will be by shortly no doubt they should have some answers for you

Edited April 21, 200718 yr by Kaz

I think that I have a cannibalistic budgie. She's layed at least one egg that I've seen, possibly more, but the eggs are going missing, no real sign that they existed. Is it more likely to be the hen or the cock? I've not run into this problem before and uncertain as to what if anything that I can do about it. would seperating the pair work? or am I missing something. they have cuttlefish, shell grit, seed, regular fruit and grass given.

 

It sounds like you have an egg eating budgie. Could be either the hen or cock, as I have had both myself. One of our members Daz, has a solution for it in this subject

 

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....79&hl=eats+eggs

 

Some budgies do it, not for the calcium necessarily, but because they dont recognise that the egg is something of theirs. It is seen as a food source.

Edited April 21, 200718 yr by Kaz

Fostering is not a viable option at this stage ( I rarely have more than one pair breeding at a time) I've put a cuttle fish in the nesting box, as well as the one in the cage itself, and on monday I'll get some calcium suplement. any other suggestions?

 

 

The hen in question is white, I've never had calcium problems before, could the colouring of the bird have something to do with it? I thought that I'd put her in with an experianced cock, but when I checked my records, I found that i hadn't. how likely is it that it's the hen, and would changing the cock make any difference?

Edited April 21, 200718 yr by paddles

The only way to tell who it is, is by catching them in the act or looking for signs of yolk on them. I had an egg eating hen, who also ate the eggs with babies in them. I also had an egg eating cock who ate the eggs as soon as they were laid by his partner. I do not think its about calcium. Sometimes a bird will accidentally break the egg by sitting too hard on them or from a sharp claw. At that point the egg becomes a food source. An egg also is a food source to some of the "sillier" budgies who cannot figure out that the egg actually came from them and wasnt put there to be eaten. Young breeding budgies often make this mistake.

Cuttle bone, when talking about calcium, os often something to chew up and play with than the best cource of calcium for a bird. The very best source of calcium is eggshells ground to a powder and mixed into their soft food ....like homemade eggfood. Failng that, I always ensure my birds have had a liquid calcium supplement in their water prior to breeding and also during the course of breeding and while raising chicks.

The colour of your bird has nothing to do with this behaviour. And you may well find it is the cock that is doing it more than the hen, but you will only know for sure by watching them closely.