Hi this breeding season 2 of my hens who have laid eggs and had them hatch before have laid dead eggs with nothing inside. Is there something wrong with the budgies?

Your males might be infertile.

There may be too many feathers around their vents making mating hard

The perches might be wobbly making mating hard

Nothing inside, or not fertile.

 

There are a number of reasons why this couldn't happen.

What is the set up like? Colony or cabinets

Are they molting?

etc

I have my budgies in an aviary with several nest boxes. the budgies havent molted yet, and the male has mated before with good results. The only thing I could think of is that the ratio of hens:cocks is 3:1 Would this be a problem? Should I get another couple of males?

Your hens can lay eggs without a male so they may not have even mated. You need more males, but you need to quarantine them for 30 days first too.

 

Perhaps remove the boxes, get some males, quarantine them for 30 days. Let the pairs bond and rest in the aviary for a while then put the boxes back.

Agree - I would make the ratio more of the males then the females

Thanks, I'll try that and hopefully it will fix it. I have another hen on eggs at the moment but I dont know if they are fertile or not, how do you tell?

If she laid them more than about four days ago you should be able to see veins in them if you shine a small torch through them. It needs to be a torch that won't get hot though, an LED one is best. I use the little LED light that is on my camera phone

I tried to have a look at the eggs but the hen wouldnt let me near them. I thought it would be best not to aggravate her and make her leave the nest, just in case they were real.

We can tell whether a egg is fertile or not by using two methods, by Candling or by the Colour of the Egg.

 

We have an article on this in our Budgie FAQ section and below is the link of the same:

 

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...&artlang=en

 

I tried to have a look at the eggs but the hen wouldnt let me near them. I thought it would be best not to aggravate her and make her leave the nest, just in case they were real.

You really have to learn to deal with hens that "wont let you do things" as when you have chicks you needs to check these nests twice a day. Here is some tips... http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...&artlang=en

Always tap on the box before you open it and as you open the box, gently encourage her to move aside of hop out he box - careful she doesnt panic and scramble the eggs. She will get used to you checking (i do it 2-3 times a day) and it will make checking the babies easy as they should trust you more by then

Thanks alot everyone, I'll try these techniques tomorrow morning when I go out and feed. Those articles were very informative thankyou KAZ and Karthik

I remember the first time I tried to look at eggs, I was so sacred that the hen was going to bite me -I used a stick to shoo her off the eggs LOL - I then learnt ( because i joined here ) Like Liv said to tap on the box or swirl my nails in a circle on the side of the box to make them move ..

 

They are use to it now - the minute they see me come in they are off their eggs and having a good stretch and well you know the rest

 

But it is very important to check your chicks at least every day if not twice a day ( which is better ) - Chick might be fine in the morning and in the arvo it is dead...

 

You have been given awesome advice and the FAQ's stuff is the best info you will get - :D:D

 

Good luck with the breeding mate

Edited September 25, 200816 yr by Neat

There is nothing wrong with your budgies. Sometimes hens just lay dud eggs that only have yolks in it.

Edited September 29, 200816 yr by Neat