Hello,

 

I’m new to budgie breeding so would like to ask for some advice. I have recently introduced a breeding box into the cage for my two budgies. Teeki, the hen spends a lot of time in the box and recently, Indi, the cock, has started spending a lot of time in the box with her as well. I’ve had the box in for about 3 weeks now and over the last week, I have noticed that Indi has become quite aggressive towards Teeki. He will ‘bully’ her off her perch and basically won’t leave her alone until she goes back into the breeding box. When in there, he tries to sit under her. He doesn’t like her eating and wants to constantly feed her and take control. I even let them fly around in the room and he goes after her even when they are flying. I’ve read a bit about breeding (about the diet they need, problems such as egg binding and about the incubation period) but I have not come across this behaviour. I’m quite concerned and am thinking about removing him from the cage or just removing the breeding box. I’m also wondering if anyone knows how long the egg takes to form inside the hen before it is laid? I wouldn't want to remove the box if an egg has started forming....Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

 

I would remove the nesting box. Breeding is stress conditions under the best of circumstances, but if you allow this to continue your hen will get very sick from the stress. Better a few wasted eggs than she dies during the incubating and raising of chicks. Your cock bird is far too hormonal and aggressive for success at this time. Better to spell him and allow him to mature and settle down. Best thing for him would be some time in an aviary with a pile of boys and girls and no nestboxes for awhile.

Thanks Kaz, that sounds like a good idea. I wouldn't want anything to happen to the hen. She's gorgeous. Also, would you be able to tell me how long it takes for the egg to form in the hen before it is laid? I can't seem to find this info anywhere. Also, when do you think I could try putting in the nest box again?

Thanks Kaz, that sounds like a good idea. I wouldn't want anything to happen to the hen. She's gorgeous. Also, would you be able to tell me how long it takes for the egg to form in the hen before it is laid? I can't seem to find this info anywhere. Also, when do you think I could try putting in the nest box again?

Oviduct

The oviduct is the structure in which fertilization and development of the egg occurs. In actively reproductive females, this muscular structure becomes very thick and large. In the inactive female, it shrinks incredibly to a threadlike structure. It is connected to the body wall just under the ovary and transverses down to the cloaca. It consists of five distinct regions: Infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, uterus (shell gland), and ******. Oviduct transit time varies among species and is approximately 24 hours.

The infundibulum catches the egg from the ovary. Fertilization occurs here. The suspensory apparatus (chalazae) of the developing embryo is added at this level. The egg spends about one hour in the infundibulum before it moves on to the magnum. This portion of the oviduct deposits most of the albumen, sodium, magnesium and calcium used in egg development. This takes three hours. Then, on to the isthmus, where the inner and outer shell membranes are added. The egg spends about two hours here.

The uterus (shell gland) retains the egg for 20 to 26 hours. During this time the egg receives salts, water, the shell, and shell pigment. The ****** is the thickest portion of the oviduct. The ****** does not contribute to the formation of the egg. The egg spends a few seconds here before it is expelled from the body. The ****** and cloaca work together during the expulsion of the egg.

Sperm can be stored for about a week in psittacine (parrot) species. In turkeys, sperm can be stored for 40 to 50 days. It is stored at the uterovaginal junction in the sperm host glands (spermatic fossa).

Ovulation occurs shortly after an egg is laid. In psittacines (parrots), the laying interval is two days (an egg every other day). In Passeriformes (softbills), lay intervals are 24 hours, but can extend up to four or five days.

 

I would stop that pair from breeding for awhile. Do you have a less aggressive cock for the hen ?

 

 

PS the forum is editing the word v a g ina...........everywhere there is *******it means v a g ina

Edited November 26, 200717 yr by KAZ

Thanks Kaz, that sounds like a good idea. I wouldn't want anything to happen to the hen. She's gorgeous. Also, would you be able to tell me how long it takes for the egg to form in the hen before it is laid? I can't seem to find this info anywhere. Also, when do you think I could try putting in the nest box again?

Oviduct

The oviduct is the structure in which fertilization and development of the egg occurs. In actively reproductive females, this muscular structure becomes very thick and large. In the inactive female, it shrinks incredibly to a threadlike structure. It is connected to the body wall just under the ovary and transverses down to the cloaca. It consists of five distinct regions: Infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, uterus (shell gland), and ******. Oviduct transit time varies among species and is approximately 24 hours.

The infundibulum catches the egg from the ovary. Fertilization occurs here. The suspensory apparatus (chalazae) of the developing embryo is added at this level. The egg spends about one hour in the infundibulum before it moves on to the magnum. This portion of the oviduct deposits most of the albumen, sodium, magnesium and calcium used in egg development. This takes three hours. Then, on to the isthmus, where the inner and outer shell membranes are added. The egg spends about two hours here.

The uterus (shell gland) retains the egg for 20 to 26 hours. During this time the egg receives salts, water, the shell, and shell pigment. The ****** is the thickest portion of the oviduct. The ****** does not contribute to the formation of the egg. The egg spends a few seconds here before it is expelled from the body. The ****** and cloaca work together during the expulsion of the egg.

Sperm can be stored for about a week in psittacine (parrot) species. In turkeys, sperm can be stored for 40 to 50 days. It is stored at the uterovaginal junction in the sperm host glands (spermatic fossa).

Ovulation occurs shortly after an egg is laid. In psittacines (parrots), the laying interval is two days (an egg every other day). In Passeriformes (softbills), lay intervals are 24 hours, but can extend up to four or five days.

 

I would stop that pair from breeding for awhile. Do you have a less aggressive cock for the hen ?

 

 

PS the forum is editing the word v a g ina...........everywhere there is *******it means v a g ina

 

 

Great info! Thanks. This is all very hepful.

Now, the cock seems to have settled down and I noticed when I was going to remove the box that there was an egg inside! Now I don't really want to take the nest box out....I was thinking though, since breeding is a stressful occasion for the hen, perhaps I can just try and get her to raise just one chick. The way I was thinking of controling this was numbering the egg with a soft pencil (2B) and then all subsequent eggs that she lays, boil them and put them back. Again, I have not read anything on others doing this so not sure if it is the way to go. Will putting in a boiled egg (eggs) next to the other fertile egg have a negative impact on the fertile egg?

Great info! Thanks. This is all very hepful.

Now, the cock seems to have settled down and I noticed when I was going to remove the box that there was an egg inside! Now I don't really want to take the nest box out....I was thinking though, since breeding is a stressful occasion for the hen, perhaps I can just try and get her to raise just one chick. The way I was thinking of controling this was numbering the egg with a soft pencil (2B) and then all subsequent eggs that she lays, boil them and put them back. Again, I have not read anything on others doing this so not sure if it is the way to go. Will putting in a boiled egg (eggs) next to the other fertile egg have a negative impact on the fertile egg?

Yes you can do that with the eggs or better still continue removing the nestbox. She may lay another egg or two and then stop. Or you can remove the cockbird and allow the ehn to try and raise her one or two eggs she may end up with alone. If she is in a breeder cage she would be fine to do this alone.

It takes about 10 days from mating to laying of the egg. for budgies. Then every second day after that the hen will lay another egg until she has reached her limit. An egg will take 18 to 25 days to hatch, depending on how tightly the hen sits and the climate during this time.

Edited November 28, 200717 yr by Sailorwolf