I have a T.C.B. and an Albino her together and have been waiting on their first egg as she has been popping in and out of the nestbox all week. After the usual courtship rituals!

 

I found it today on the floor of the cage, it was soft (more calcium?) and broken and had some poop that looks like it followed through with it. I am wondering why it was outside and not in the nestbox, I though as she has spent so much time in there she would want to lay in there?

 

Thanks for any advice,

Trish.

Edited December 1, 200816 yr by KAZ

Definately more calcium needed, if its soft it's possible she was having trouble laying it and it caught her by surprise when she inally layed it.

Edited December 1, 200816 yr by melbournebudgies

I'm not experienced enough to answer this one but I look forward to hearing what people say... sorry to hear about the egg...

Definately more calcium needed, if its soft it's possible she was having trouble laying it and it caught her by surprise when she inally layed it.

 

 

I think she may have been having trouble laying it as she has been in the nestbox most of the time when I check sometimes 5 times a day (I only look to see where she is in the day from accross the room, I dont go up and open the nestbox as I dont want to upset her). I have cuttlebone in there, is the iodine bell better? What special foods will give her calcium? I have started to give them whole 20 min hard boiled eggs also. Thanks Jimmy and MB.

She needs a supplement like calcivet

She needs a supplement like calcivet

Will do. Thanks.I am trying to find the thread on suppliments to give a breeding pair without success. Does anyone know where it is? Thanks.The hen is still going in and out of the nest box, I wonder why, does she not know she has laid it already?

She might be wanting to lay again... they normally lay more than one egg...

She might be wanting to lay again... they normally lay more than one egg...

 

 

I thought that they were usually a few days apart?

If she was delayed in laying the first because it was soft she may lay the next one very soon

If she was delayed in laying the first because it was soft she may lay the next one very soon

 

 

Fingers crossed it will be a hard one and laid in the nest!

Definately more calcium needed, if its soft it's possible she was having trouble laying it and it caught her by surprise when she inally layed it.

Totally agree. Its very easy to get eggbound when there is a soft shelled egg, so you were lucky this time. Definitely needs calcivet.

Definately more calcium needed, if its soft it's possible she was having trouble laying it and it caught her by surprise when she inally layed it.

Totally agree. Its very easy to get eggbound when there is a soft shelled egg, so you were lucky this time. Definitely needs calcivet.

 

 

The closest place to buy it is an hour away or I could buy it online. I have also contacted Nigel Tonkin, my clubs secretary in case he knows of anywhere closer? Will get it A.S.A.P. I was lucky, thank god she passed it, I might have to go the hours drive when the kids get home from school.

Calcivet works within days when soft shelled eggs indicate lack of calcium

Is there a pet shop there at all? I would take any calcium supplement at all in preference to none, Calcivet is great but whatever brand the pet shop has would be okay in the mean time.

I use Avical which i can get from my local bird shop. Also try contacting your local budgie club and see if any members can supply you with some emergency calcium while you wait to get some.

I use Avical which i can get from my local bird shop. Also try contacting your local budgie club and see if any members can supply you with some emergency calcium while you wait to get some.

 

 

I am just waiting to hear back from the secretary. The hen in question is constantly in the nest box, every time I check now she is in there, is this a worry?

I use Avical which i can get from my local bird shop. Also try contacting your local budgie club and see if any members can supply you with some emergency calcium while you wait to get some.

 

 

I am just waiting to hear back from the secretary. The hen in question is constantly in the nest box, every time I check now she is in there, is this a worry?

Well, she is trying to lay the next egg. Close monitoring from you will be required in case she is trying to pass another softshelled egg or in case she becomes eggbound.

what is her current diet? Does she have eggshell and things mixed into her food to help with calcium? It might help if we know what she is currently eating... KAZ mentioned being egg bound, you might want to read up on the different topics regarding this. Good luck with it all and I hope she doesn't become egg bound...

If she is in the nestbox she is trying to lay. One of the first signs of eggbinding when they "hide" in the nestbox is she will pant and hold one leg up. If she looks distressed she is eggbound. If she looks fine then she is just laying an egg. When she does, check the egg for smoothness. A partly transparent egg with rough feel to the shell means she is severely lacking calcium and that means she will take the calcium needed to form eggs, from her own bones. Did you prepare her for breeding by giving her calcium prior to going in the breeding cage ? Any bought in birds have an unknown history of egg laying, breeding and calcium levels. So you must put them on a course of calcium before they go into the breeding cage.

Edited December 2, 200816 yr by KAZ

If she is in the nestbox she is trying to lay. One of the first signs of eggbinding when they "hide" in the nestbox is she will pant and hold one leg up. If she looks distressed she is eggbound. If she looks fine then she is just laying an egg. When she does, check the gg for smoothness. A partly transparent egg with rough feel to the shell means she is severely lacking calcium and that means she will take the calcium needed to form eggs, from her own bones. Did you prepare her for breeding by giving her calcium prior to going in the breeding cage ? Any bought in birds have an unknown history of egg laying, breeding and calcium levels. So you must put them on a course of calcium before they go into the breeding cage.

 

 

She isnt panting and holding a leg up. She was still in there on last look but she just looks to be looking around? I bought her in breeding condition from the breeder and thought that it would be fine. I give her a vitamin supplement every second day and vegies every second day also. She has sprouted seeds and a mix of canary and budgie seed and millet. I boil eggs for 20 minutes and crush them whole and give them to the birds but have only just started doing this in the last couple of weeks. She is an Albino if this makes any difference to dietary needs?

 

I have just got back from the breeder and he said he can give me some Calcivet when he finishes work. Kaz do you know where on the forum is the supplement list for breeding birds? I typed in supplements in the search topics but couldnt find it. They are the only pair with a nestbox on so I would like to do the correct thing with the rest.

 

Thankyou everyone for your help.

Supplements isnt what you should be worrying about as the diet you have described seems adequate. The supplement you were missing was the calcivet. Multivitamins are almost a waste of time of the birds diet is varied and adequate. A multivitamin only has a low portion of calcium in it amongst other things.

Supplements isnt what you should be worrying about as the diet you have described seems adequate. The supplement you were missing was the calcivet. Multivitamins are almost a waste of time of the birds diet is varied and adequate. A multivitamin only has a low portion of calcium in it amongst other things.

 

 

I will go and get the calcivet from the breeder tonight and apply to the beak as I have read in a previous topic. Is there a topic on how to apply medicines to the beak? I checked her again and she seems to be just pecking at the wood shavings and not stressed at all?

It will be fine if you put it in her water. Only need to give it to her directly if she is eggbound.

It will be fine if you put it in her water. Only need to give it to her directly if she is eggbound.

 

 

Thanks Kaz, I feel like such a pain but I just wnat to do the right thing,

thanks for helping.

It will be fine if you put it in her water. Only need to give it to her directly if she is eggbound.

 

 

Thanks Kaz, I feel like such a pain but I just wnat to do the right thing,

thanks for helping.

You are not a pain