Hi I went into my bird room today to check on a nest that was due to hatch yesterday and noticed that 1 of the eggs had been broken and dried yolk in it, I then checked the other eggs and they too were just yolks This pair only hatched out one chick last time and the other eggs weren't fertile, why is this happening?

It could be a number of factors.

One being that the birds weren't in breeding condition when paired up.

Daz is right.

 

Other reasons.........

 

either budgie is infertile.

Too young

Too old

Mating perches wrong diameter for decent grip

Mating perches wobble all around

Hen goes to nest early without mating and thinks she can be a single mother

Too much feather around the vent preventing proper contact for transfer of sperm

Edited March 24, 200916 yr by KAZ

Thanks for that. They've had 1 chick from the last nest so I think they should be fertile? The hen did go in the nest almost straight away after I paired them up so maybe she didn't mate. I bought the cock from a breeder out of the paper so I don't know how old he is, he couldn't tell me.

Any reason why you dont candle the eggs to check fertility ? Would save all the waiting for eggs that wont hatch.

How to candle eggs .....................

 

http://www.geocities.com/heartland/bluffs/1958/eggs.html

 

The difference between a fertile agg and a non fertile egg by colour recognition......

Fertile egg on the left and non fertile egg on the right. See the difference in colour ?

Edited March 24, 200916 yr by KAZ

Thanks heaps for that Kaz, to tell you the truth, b4 I got onto this website I didn't even know that you could touch the eggs or the chicks! I've been breeding them for a couple of years now and have always checked them but never touched them! I've learnt so much!! Big thanks

You can get a candling torch that bends and is very flexible. You do not need to touch the eggs at all, its quite easy.

I agree with kaz, The infertile eggs will be pink and clear and the fertile will be white. Usually its really asy to tell the difference in a nest full of eggs. All eggs are clear for the first few days though.

I dont touch the eggs at all either...easier to use the torch in the nestbox while Mum is out having a feed or a break.

If you do need to touch the eggs I would wash your hands thoroughly before doing so. I have read that dirty hands can infect the eggs with all sorts of things and the embryo's inside can die.

I keep the waterless antibacterial hand wash in my birdroom in a dispenser for moment just like those.

I agree with Daz and Kaz , I think they have covered it all