I have a first time mother who laid six eggs in her first clutch. She has been very attentive, and the first bub hatched without a hitch, and is now nearly a week old and is nice and healthy. The following three eggs have only sort of half hatched... Each egg has pipped and partially opened so as you can see parts of the baby inside, but each baby has died inside the egg before breaking all the way through... I haven't heard of this before, and i was wondering if it was just coincidental, or the shells of the eggs were paticularly thick for some reason. Any information on this topic would be much appreciated .

 

Cheers

I have noticed that from the first sign of the chipped egg it has sometimes taken the chick two days to release itself from the egg.One is tempted to assist them from the egg but i believe this is unwise.You will lose more than you will ever save as in many cases they will be premature.The most helpful tip prior to and during hatching is to provide a supply of moisture,especially if the weather conditions are very dry.Every time you open the nest box to inspect the eggs blow your moist breath on them.The only time i would advocate helping a chick from the egg is when there is lack of moisture.On inspection of the chipped egg you will see that the membrane has dried,perhaps sticking to the chicks head and restricting its movements.Dampen the egg and,with the aid of a quill end from a large feather,proceed carefully to remove the cap from the egg and the dry membrane from the chick.After this is done and you can see the chick will have no more trouble realeasing itself from the rest of the egg return it to the nest.If the chick is neally exhausted by its ordeal you may feed it a few drops of warm water,to give it strength it needs to take crop milk from its mother.

you have been given good advice frome corka is the mum chipping hte eggs?? what are you feeding them as this sometimes can play a big part in hatching

I am feeding them a pet shop brand budgie mix made of canary, various millets etc. Spinach, celery, corn on the cob, every other day as well as seeding grasses. They have clacium bells in their while they are breeding as well as the occasional mushed up hard boiled egg yolk.

 

The mothers are so protective over the eggs, and i feel that removing them would stress the hen and potential any other eggs or offspring in the box at the time. I will admit they are first time mothers, so I will give her a break for a while and try again in a few months.

 

Cheers for your help guys!

 

Jacob

Sometimes the chick can hatch too early, or attempt to, and this can cause problems.

 

It sounds like you are giving the birds all the right things.

 

Perhaps the mum hears a sound and seeks to help. Not being an experienced mum might be a problem as well.

Its called "Pipping Death". It is usually related to disease and/or brooding failure.

Make sure the parents are no sick in any way. their eyes must be clear and bright. No staining of the feathers at all, and feathers must be bright in colour and be glossy. If they are not like this then there is every possibility your breeding pair might have latent Psittacosis.

 

Brooding failure comes from over checking the nests, stressed birds or young birds that are not mature enough to incubate properly.

 

I hope you can find your answers as any death is never nice.

This article may be helpful reading..........................

 

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....showtopic=22377