Posted March 26, 200817 yr Well round about 3 weeks ago I was bragging on here as to how many fertile eggs I had - well I just checked the eggs that are due to hatch on Friday and it seems 2 died in the shell and the other 3 stopped developing :sad: for some strange reason, anyone got any ideas on why this would happen? I also checked another nest and the eggs are fine, I could actually hear one of the chicks pecking inside at the shell. Will let the first pair try again and see what happens, they both bred okay last year with other partners, so we'll see what happens next time.
March 26, 200817 yr We have had some hot weather...maybe the mother got out of the nest and stopped incubating on a warmer day :sad:
March 26, 200817 yr ((hugs)) don't feel bad, we all get excited and then sometimes it doesn't happen the way we like.
March 27, 200817 yr Well round about 3 weeks ago I was bragging on here as to how many fertile eggs I had - well I just checked the eggs that are due to hatch on Friday and it seems 2 died in the shell and the other 3 stopped developing for some strange reason, anyone got any ideas on why this would happen? I also checked another nest and the eggs are fine, I could actually hear one of the chicks pecking inside at the shell. Will let the first pair try again and see what happens, they both bred okay last year with other partners, so we'll see what happens next time. WEAK EMBRYOS , Many studs suffer badly from lack of attention to high grade feeding, the barest minimum of cheap seed being offered. The effect of this is that the cocks produce weak sperm and the hens poor grade yolks, which are the unborn chicks food source. The result, often put down to the fault of the birds them self, is chicks dying at ten to seventeen days during incubation. Post-mortem examination will show white anemic embryo's semi-formed an with barely any yolk left for continued development. DEAD IN SHELL, In 90% of the cases the reason is incorrect feeding, which results in weak embryos. These embryos have enough strength to start chipping, but no more and death within the shell is the result. The remaining percentage are either eggs that are chilled during emergence or eggs incubated in low humidity. A very dry atmosphere has the effect of toughening the inner membrane of the egg through which the chick must break. This is a extract out of one my old Budgerigar World Mags from Gerald S Binks. Both these explanations are questionable. I had a dead in shell last week. We have had high humidity not low. We feed our birds on Trill with a lot extras so a cheap diet shouldn't be a issue either. But still we had a DIS Every bird lost for a show breeder is disappointing. That bird could have been the Champion that you are hoping for. I have many times thought I have breed a absolute stormer only to later realise it is a feather duster. Or a bird with a magnificent Head, Mask and Blow, who won't grow a tail.
March 27, 200817 yr Hi Jenene, I imagine the warm weather played a part too. I hope you have more success in the next round. Feathers.
March 31, 200817 yr Im sorry for the news .. I too have had a few DIS ... As throwbacks post I have feed my breeders better then i fed myself (Laughing out loud) and i still get one every now and then
March 31, 200817 yr I have many times thought I have breed a absolute stormer only to later realise it is a feather duster. okay, here's a newbie asking -- what's a feather duster????
March 31, 200817 yr Author I have many times thought I have breed a absolute stormer only to later realise it is a feather duster. okay, here's a newbie asking -- what's a feather duster???? Hi Erin and welcome to the forum - this is a feather duster. Dont ask me why they look like they do, maybe someone like Kaz will be able to explain it to you! Edited March 31, 200817 yr by jenene283
March 31, 200817 yr A feather duster is a budgie with a genetic disorder where the feathers continue to grow and grow (unlike a normal budgie where the feathers stop growing), there can also be other deformities to the clawa and/or beak. Feather Dusters require a high amount of minerals and nutrition and because of the excessive growth of the feathers it literally pulls all the nutrients from the birds body. Most feather dusters don't live to the age of 1 (there are few occasions wher they did live longer). Since it is a genetic disorder it is incurable.
March 31, 200817 yr A feather duster is a budgie with a genetic disorder where the feathers continue to grow and grow (unlike a normal budgie where the feathers stop growing), there can also be other deformities to the clawa and/or beak. Feather Dusters require a high amount of minerals and nutrition and because of the excessive growth of the feathers it literally pulls all the nutrients from the birds body. Most feather dusters don't live to the age of 1 (there are few occasions wher they did live longer). Since it is a genetic disorder it is incurable. Okay! Wow, this is all so fascinating. Thanks for the photo and the explanation, I'm really glad I asked -- I thought it was a euphemism for a less attractive than usual bird!
March 31, 200817 yr I have many times thought I have breed a absolute stormer only to later realise it is a feather duster. okay, here's a newbie asking -- what's a feather duster???? This is a lutino hen that I breed in the 90's. ">
March 31, 200817 yr The hole gene thing is amazing ... Erin there are a few links on here about ot mutations which ae interesting like the Feather duster ..... The half sider is anothe one
April 1, 200817 yr Well round about 3 weeks ago I was bragging on here as to how many fertile eggs I had - well I just checked the eggs that are due to hatch on Friday and it seems 2 died in the shell and the other 3 stopped developing :budgiedance: for some strange reason, anyone got any ideas on why this would happen? I also checked another nest and the eggs are fine, I could actually hear one of the chicks pecking inside at the shell. Will let the first pair try again and see what happens, they both bred okay last year with other partners, so we'll see what happens next time. One possible cause for infertile eggs is that the hen laid the first clutch too soon, before the cock mated with her. Try blocking off the nest box for a few weeks, then allow her to lay a second clutch and see if they have better luck. If the male is an English budgie, make sure the feathers around the vent are not so long that they cover the vent, preventing insemination. If the feathers are too long, trim them carefully with scissors, leaving the down showing around the vent. Make sure all the perches are stable and do not wobble or roll. If the pair produces two clutches of infertile eggs, remove them from the breeding cage and consider trying them with different mates or waiting until a later date to try again
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now