I have recently acquired some beautiful budgies and a cage through a place that was holding a yard sale. One of the budgies died a few days later (I took the bird to the vet after i noticed it was limping badly). Not wanting to leave the other bird lonely (I assumed it was a female, hard to tell as she is an albino and apparently it is hard to read, but as the other was a male and the couple were sold to me as a breeding pair). My daughter and I purchased another 2 young birds (again was told by the shop owner, too young to tell what sex). As I have had them now for nearly 2 months, one is definately a male and the other a female). The female began to get extremely close with the original budgie (which I was still asuming was a female) - the young female took up residence in a breeding box which was in the cage and then started to lay eggs. I thought she was way too young, but again told by the local pet shop that they do start young. My delima is that the eggs have now been there past the 22 days and nothing has happened - I am sure they must be infertile - but I don't know what to do now? Do I take away the eggs? do I remove the nesting box? is the original bird a male? will she continue to lay eggs that are not fertile? is it bad to leave the box in the cage or worse to remove it? Please help - I don't want my inexperience to cause my beautiful birds that I am just getting to know any health risks or needless grief. I really need to talk to someone who knows as I have the feeling that the pet shop people only know how to sell. I am in situated in the south of Brisbane.

Edited June 27, 200816 yr by KAZ
edited for shortcuts

Hi Diamond Fire,

 

Eggs take 18-21 days from the time the hen sits and incubates. You need to hold the eggs up to a strong light and see what they look like. If the eggs are infertile I would remove the nestbox and throw away the eggs. Also good advice is to never listen to advice from pet stores. They will tell you anything to make a sale. The budgies seem to be too young to breed. They will breed from 12 weeks if YOU have a nesting box for them to lay eggs in. Its your responsibility to NOT have a nesting box anywhere near birds that are too young.

So...best to remove the nestbox and not put one back until you are very sure the birds are over 12 months.

If you can post some pictures...very clear ones of the cere ( part above the beak ) we can help you sex the birds. It is hard to sex an albino. BUT safe to say if the cere hasnt gone brownish it is a male.

Hi Diamond Fire,

 

Eggs take 18-21 days from the time the hen sits and incubates. You need to hold the eggs up to a strong light and see what they look like. If the eggs are infertile I would remove the nestbox and throw away the eggs. Also good advice is to never listen to advice from pet stores. They will tell you anything to make a sale. The budgies seem to be too young to breed. They will breed from 12 weeks if YOU have a nesting box for them to lay eggs in. Its your responsibility to NOT have a nesting box anywhere near birds that are too young.

So...best to remove the nestbox and not put one back until you are very sure the birds are over 12 months.

If you can post some pictures...very clear ones of the cere ( part above the beak ) we can help you sex the birds. It is hard to sex an albino. BUT safe to say if the cere hasnt gone brownish it is a male.

 

Thank you very much - I will remove the box and eggs straight away (will she pine?) - I will upload a picture as soon as I can to to help resolve my problems.

There is a chance the eggs may be fertile...so I would wait a few more days. Maybe another week.

But if they arent and you need to remove the box later....just rearrange the cage some and add some new toys

Edited June 27, 200816 yr by KAZ

Great advice from Kaz, as always ....

 

Especailly re: the pet shop, I can't believe that petshops are telling customers that they will breed young, they shoudl be telling them NOT TO BREED THE YOUNG !!!

 

Anyways, Welcome, and enjoy your new feathered friends

hi, welcome to the forums

hi, welcome to the forums

 

 

A Big thank you to everyone for their advice, it is so good to speak to others with the common goal, the care of the budgie, and to get realistic advice and encouragement. I feel I will be spending a lot of time here.

hi, welcome to the forums

 

 

A Big thank you to everyone for their advice, it is so good to speak to others with the common goal, the care of the budgie, and to get realistic advice and encouragement. I feel I will be spending a lot of time here.

Good to have you here, Diamond Fire. You will get better advice and support here than ANY PET SHOP

Welcome to the forums