I could not think of anything worse. No, if nibbler wants to make love to the cage and only the cage, then his line dies with him. he may be doing his own vesion of the darwin awards

:)

I checked yesterday again, milly has five big eggs, Sebby has 5 smaller eggs, and both Angel and Tralia seem to be spending more time in their nest boxes. Angel looks like she will lay an egg very soon as she appears to have the swollen bum look going on

Checked on birds this morning before I go out - good news. Egg counts goes as follows:

 

Milly and Humphrey - 5 large eggs

 

Sebby and Cheese - 5 medium sized eggs

 

Angel and Hugo - 1 medium sized egg

 

Angel has laid her first egg. So pleased. Just a matter of waiting now.

 

Tralia has laid none, Nibbler is still attempting to go blind, however they are feeding and preening each other more now than before.

Great news! Looks like you're going to be kept quite busy! Can I ask a somewhat silly question . What makes hens lay different sized eggs? Is it different hens? I had a hen who laid some big and some small. Does it depend on if the egg is fertile etc... Thanks!

From my understanding and observations it comes down to a few variables.

 

Number one of course is the "type" of birds. If you are bredding show birds, then the young are going to be bigger, thus the bigger birds. If you are breeding "pet" types they are smaller birds, so they have smaller eggs. It is not possible for them to have large eggs, they cannot produce it.

 

the exception to the rule is of course twins. If their are twins in the egg, the egg naturally has to be bigger to contain both of them. Kaz has had twins, as have some others, but rarely do they, or both, survive.

 

Others can provide more info of course.

Go HUGO !! :hap: :hap:

Just hoping it is fertile. Hugo did not seem to have the hang of mating last time I saw him, of course, I have been away for 3 days, so he had plenty of time to get it right away from prying eyes.

 

Wish he would talk to Nibbler.

Thanks for that.

 

Sounds like they need to have a man to man chat, over a quiet beer of course

Maybe you need to make some "educational" budgie mating videos for the slow learners and play it to them ?

Edited February 16, 200817 yr by KAZ

when i first put them in breeding boxes last year one of my neighbours suggested I get them some "budgie ****" to encourage them. I coudn't find any so i just played some bad seventies music and occasionally showed them world movies on SBS - (Laughing out loud)

when i first put them in breeding boxes last year one of my neighbours suggested I get them some "budgie ****" to encourage them. I coudn't find any so i just played some bad seventies music and occasionally showed them world movies on SBS - (Laughing out loud)

You might be on to a market Niche there with the budgie **** , Im sure there would be plenty of desperate breeders out there that would try anything to get thier birds to breed.

 

There is one hurdle though how do you explain that to the head master if your caught by a neighbour or student.

:hap: :hap: ... BOYS!!!

Sebby now has 7 eggs. Still only can see 5 for Milly, but you never know. i will check the boxes later to see if there are any more updates required

okay, new update

 

Sebby now has 7 eggs. No big eggs, but it will be interesting to see the colours. This is Sebby's last time breeding so hopefully there will be some lovelies in there.

 

Still only can see 5 for Milly. Milly is such a good mother that unlike other birds, when you tap on the nestbox, she doesn't leave. She just sits there, on her eggs. She has at least 5, maybe more I cannot tell.

 

The big news is that Angel has laid her second egg. Hoping they are both fertile. Only time will tell.

 

Tralia still has no eggs. Boo hoo

Once more, seems I am the only one posting. Hopefully people are reading. if not, at least it lets me keep dates. I really should get that budgerigar program.

 

Sebby now has 8 eggs. fertility has to be an issue - i am hoping.

 

Milly has at least 5 - she does not leave the nest box when you knock, or even prod - (Laughing out loud)

 

Angel now has 3. I am looking forward to the outcome of these, as is Kaz apparently

 

Tralia - still no eggs

I'm still reading!

 

Sebby sounds like she's powering along for an old girl (last time breeding)... go girlfriend!

 

Milly sounds like she's going to be a good mum... although her 'kids' might not think so when she won't let them go off and play with their friends without her :sad:

 

Angels' 3 is great news. Hope she lays a few more...

 

and Tralia... come on girl, you have some catching up to do!!!

yes , still reading , the girls dont seem to have a problem with laying big clutches.

Hope their fertile.

Yes we are still reading...good luck Dave.

 

Soon you will have chicks all over the place, like I am at the moment I only have a couple of pairs breeding now so no spare batches to foster to & have nests of 7 or 8 which I prefer to avoid, but I have no choice.

Edited February 20, 200817 yr by Norm

I was thinking of the whole fostering thing as well, but it seems like there is little chance of that happening at the moment, but you never know.

 

Sebby is not old Maesie, just a pet type bird, and I am preferring to breed larger birds these days. Thought I would let her have one final fling.

 

Tralia - not sure there is hope there.

I was thinking of the whole fostering thing as well, but it seems like there is little chance of that happening at the moment, but you never know.

 

Sebby is not old Maesie, just a pet type bird, and I am preferring to breed larger birds these days. Thought I would let her have one final fling.

 

Tralia - not sure there is hope there.

Hey Dave , how long has Tralia been in the breeding cabinet, Was just thinking if she hasnt laid then she could possibly have a problem , Id make sure you have plenty of cuttlebone available and put her onto calcivet for a week just to make sure she doesnt become egg bound , Its just a thought .

Also if you want to induce a hen to lay you can try Wheatgerm oil its high in vitamin E which is known for fertility , You use about one teaspoon of oil to Half kilo of seed and leave it over night , then feed the next day . Dont over use the oil though as it is strong and a little goes a long way.

Tralia and Nibbler seem to be getting on well. Nibbler, in my opinion, is getting far too much gratification from the cage front, rather than from Tralia. that birds is going to go blind - LOL.

 

I wouldnt put the lack of laying down to Tralia just yet....I think Nibbler is in love with his cage front

Edited February 20, 200817 yr by KAZ

Tralia is not egg bound. This is her first time in a breeding cage. probably a bit overwhelmed. She is getting used to going into the nest box now. She has only really just begun to let Nibbler feed her. No wonder he is using the cage front - (Laughing out loud).

 

Each breeding cage has a cuttlebone, mineral stick and there is calcivet in the water, so there is definitely no problems there. Thank you for your suggestions lonebudgie.

well, the positive news of tonight is that Nibbler is feeding Tralia more and more, Tralia is spending more and more time in the nest box, to the extent that she is sitting in there with her head just visible and Nibber sits outside on guard duty. Hopefully this is a good sign.

Fingers crossed xxx