We have a problem. We have a breeding pair :dbb1: :ygbudgie: who have raised 3 clutches in quick succession. We didn't want her to have another clutch this year as we were worried that she would lose condition...but lo and behold there are 2 eggs in the nest before the last 2 have left. What should we do? Can you take the nesting box out before the babies come out? Or should we take the hen out and leave the good father to continue the feeding?? She looks pretty healthy still and the babies are gorgeous... :bluebudgie: The kids can't bear the thought of letting the eggs die

Edited December 1, 200717 yr by KAZ

We have a problem. We have a breeding pair :dbb1: :ygbudgie: who have raised 3 clutches in quick succession. We didn't want her to have another clutch this year as we were worried that she would lose condition...but lo and behold there are 2 eggs in the nest before the last 2 have left. What should we do? Can you take the nesting box out before the babies come out? Or should we take the hen out and leave the good father to continue the feeding?? She looks pretty healthy still and the babies are gorgeous... :bluebudgie: The kids can't bear the thought of letting the eggs die

Generally two clutches in a row is more than enough without a very long break. Three is pushing it a little depending on health, but four would be considered too much. Budgies will breed themselves literally to death. Each clutch is harder on the parents and the chicks lose in health and quality. Probably best to remove the chicks to a container on the floor of the breeding box and remove the nestbox. Throw away any eggs or put them under another hen if you have one already breeding. You might just have to tell the kids that the eggs got broken. Better a "dead egg" than a dead "Mum" budgie. I would worry about a pair with 4 clutches in a row.

We have a problem. We have a breeding pair :dbb1: :ygbudgie: who have raised 3 clutches in quick succession. We didn't want her to have another clutch this year as we were worried that she would lose condition...but lo and behold there are 2 eggs in the nest before the last 2 have left. What should we do? Can you take the nesting box out before the babies come out? Or should we take the hen out and leave the good father to continue the feeding?? She looks pretty healthy still and the babies are gorgeous... :bluebudgie: The kids can't bear the thought of letting the eggs die

Generally two clutches in a row is more than enough without a very long break. Three is pushing it a little depending on health, but four would be considered too much. Budgies will breed themselves literally to death. Each clutch is harder on the parents and the chicks lose in health and quality. Probably best to remove the chicks to a container on the floor of the breeding box and remove the nestbox. Throw away any eggs or put them under another hen if you have one already breeding. You might just have to tell the kids that the eggs got broken. Better a "dead egg" than a dead "Mum" budgie. I would worry about a pair with 4 clutches in a row.

 

 

i'm in agreement with removing the eggs but DO NOT remove the chicks from the nest. remove the hen the cock bird will feed and raise the chicks himself. if you leave the hen she might do the same but you risk her becoming bored and feather plucking the chicks i hope you havn't taken the nest box away as neather cock or hen will feed them

We have a problem. We have a breeding pair :dbb1: :ygbudgie: who have raised 3 clutches in quick succession. We didn't want her to have another clutch this year as we were worried that she would lose condition...but lo and behold there are 2 eggs in the nest before the last 2 have left. What should we do? Can you take the nesting box out before the babies come out? Or should we take the hen out and leave the good father to continue the feeding?? She looks pretty healthy still and the babies are gorgeous... :bluebudgie: The kids can't bear the thought of letting the eggs die

Generally two clutches in a row is more than enough without a very long break. Three is pushing it a little depending on health, but four would be considered too much. Budgies will breed themselves literally to death. Each clutch is harder on the parents and the chicks lose in health and quality. Probably best to remove the chicks to a container on the floor of the breeding box and remove the nestbox. Throw away any eggs or put them under another hen if you have one already breeding. You might just have to tell the kids that the eggs got broken. Better a "dead egg" than a dead "Mum" budgie. I would worry about a pair with 4 clutches in a row.

i'm in agreement with removing the eggs but DO NOT remove the chicks from the nest. remove the hen the cock bird will feed and raise the chicks himself. if you leave the hen she might do the same but you risk her becoming bored and feather plucking the chicks i hope you havn't taken the nest box away as neather cock or hen will feed them

I suppose we have all experienced differing things with our breeding birds. Often when I have put chicks into an open container on the floor of the breeder cage the parent or parents DO feed their babies. But there are different ways to do things. ......and removing the hen as crestedbreeder suggests, also works well.

Both ways will work but I'd just throw the eggs out as she lays them and when the chicks are old enough remove the nest box.

i have my 4 chix from 3+ weeks to 2 weeks. i keep them in the day with me in a tub play gym, and mom and dad and i feed, they do fine comming to the bays, i would throw the eggs and removw the box, the parents will go to the kids, my guys fly across the room to help me feed and i put the kids with them for the night, no new eggs yet im sure they will go for a second clutch but i wont let them do three, and these are new parents, good luck,

juliet