Hi all,

Looked for a past topic on this but can't find it.

I have a happy large walk-in aviary (approx 2 x 6 meters and very high) for my budgies and cockatiels.

They have been together since babies (or very young) and get on very well together.

Some have paired up and are breeding, and have different sections in the aviary for the 2 types.

The cockatiel nests are bigger than the budgie boxes, and the budgies have shown no interest in the Cockatiels boxes (except to sit on them occasionally). However, one pair of budgies, and one pair of Cockatiels decided to share one of the larger boxes (there are plenty of other free boxes). Both the females have have laid eggs, (which are mixed up in 2 groups in different spots in the box). They both sit on the eggs, sometimes at the same time, sometimes in turns. They don't seem to fight at all, and neither of the males try to chase any of them away.

I'm not sure what to do, when they hatch they will both have a mix of babies, and I know their food needs from the mother is not the same.

I can't just separate the eggs into 2 groups - they often swap which group of eggs they sit on.

Any ideas??

I don't think there will be much problem. The mums will probably feed their own babies and if they aren't fighting there shouldn't be a problem. But keep a close eye on them in case.

I don't think there will be much problem. The mums will probably feed their own babies and if they aren't fighting there shouldn't be a problem. But keep a close eye on them in case.

 

I completely diagree! All *** can break loose once those eggs hatch (if they do)

I don't think there will be much problem. The mums will probably feed their own babies and if they aren't fighting there shouldn't be a problem. But keep a close eye on them in case.

 

I completely diagree! All *** can break loose once those eggs hatch (if they do)

I agree with Maesie I am afraid. I think the problems will come with hatching. Is there any budgies with eggs in their owns nests so you can transfer the eggs out.......or any tiels you can transfer the tiel eggs out to ?

Edited February 18, 201015 yr by KAZ

Thanks for the input - yes I am not confident it will sort itself out.

I have 3 other mating pairs of budgies at the moment, so I did wonder whether to spread the budgie eggs to the other nests.

I wondered:

1) Will this make the other clutches a little too big?

2) I don't think they will hatch at the same time as the others - I don't know whether this is an issue? (I have never transferred eggs before to different birds).

Hi Realene,

 

I'm no expert, so I'll just wait and see what the others tell you, but I wanted to pop in and say hi, and welcome to the forum!

In spite of the perceived / anticipated problems, they are so cute and friendly together in the nestbox (now- anyway!). It makes me warm and fuzzy.

Hi Realene,I'm no expert, so I'll just wait and see what the others tell you, but I wanted to pop in and say hi, and welcome to the forum!

Thanks Finnie!

Thanks for the input - yes I am not confident it will sort itself out.

I have 3 other mating pairs of budgies at the moment, so I did wonder whether to spread the budgie eggs to the other nests.

I wondered:

1) Will this make the other clutches a little too big?

2) I don't think they will hatch at the same time as the others - I don't know whether this is an issue? (I have never transferred eggs before to different birds).

 

 

You would have to know at which stage the other eggs and nests are at to distrubute them well. If you were to candle the eggs you would also know which are actually fertile all around and that would help you make these choices.

Candling can be done without touching the eggs. Use a strong torch in the nestboxes, behind the egg pointing back towards where you are so you can see the results

In spite of the perceived / anticipated problems, they are so cute and friendly together in the nestbox (now- anyway!). It makes me warm and fuzzy

 

:sadsorry: I know... but also having seen what can happen when things turn bad (and this is only between budgeis) I would hate for you or anyone else to see that!

It would be awful if one or the other attacked bubs, are they due to hatch about the same time do you know? You never know, you hear about dogs mothering kittens etc. why not birds, maybe they can co-exist. Here's hoping.

Sorry about my comment earlier. I realise that l may have been incorrect.

Hi all,

Thanks for your help. I must admit I was tempted to leave them together to see how they would work it out (very curious!); but as the risk is that it may cost the babies lives (or some of them), I decided to move the budgie eggs. The mother budgie doesn't seem to be helping sitting in the nest anymore.

Hopefully she'll pick a new box for herself and start again when she is ready!

the mum won't know where the eggs are thats why she won't be sitting, do you have other nest's at the same stage that you could foster them into?