Hey guys,

 

I thought I'd seek some expert advice.

 

I got my budgies from a bird and fish place a couple of years ago. A super Grey Cock (gold ring) and a young Violet Sky Dom Pied Hen, unrung. I went with the aim of finding the best hen I could, and she was it, but she had just broken her cap and was obviously immature.

 

Now I waited (VERY patiently) until she was what I estimated was 12-14 months old, and in condition (chocolate cere), before trying to breed.

 

She laid 2 eggs successfully, but was sleeping outside the nest box. Next minute, both eggs were broken and one was outside on the floor. This all happened about October last year.

 

I now realise I could have waited a little longer before trying to breed with her (18 months - 2 years ?). Won't make this mistake again.

 

 

 

However, my question is do I try again with her or move on and get another hen ? Is she likely to change her ways and sit on the eggs next time, given she will be nearly 12 months older, or is she ruined ?

 

 

I was planning on trying again either way about June, subject to the birds being well. This sound right ?

Hey guys,

 

I thought I'd seek some expert advice.

 

I got my budgies from a bird and fish place a couple of years ago. A super Grey Cock (gold ring) and a young Violet Sky Dom Pied Hen, unrung. I went with the aim of finding the best hen I could, and she was it, but she had just broken her cap and was obviously immature.

 

Now I waited (VERY patiently) until she was what I estimated was 12-14 months old, and in condition (chocolate cere), before trying to breed.

 

She laid 2 eggs successfully, but was sleeping outside the nest box. Next minute, both eggs were broken and one was outside on the floor. This all happened about October last year.

 

I now realise I could have waited a little longer before trying to breed with her (18 months - 2 years ?). Won't make this mistake again.

 

 

 

However, my question is do I try again with her or move on and get another hen ? Is she likely to change her ways and sit on the eggs next time, given she will be nearly 12 months older, or is she ruined ?

 

 

I was planning on trying again either way about June, subject to the birds being well. This sound right ?

Hi,

I don't claim to be an expert but i had something similar happen to me just last month.

I had aquired this hen from a friend and put her down to nest and she laid her first 3 eggs and broke every one of them, as she laid the rest of her eggs for that round i took them out and put them under another breeding pair and successfully hatched them and they are doing well.

As for the hen that was breaking her eggs, she just stopped doing it on the next round and is now sitting on 6 eggs with 1 chick and is a really good mum, so there may be hope.

Try again, as for not sitting on her eggs, most of my hens don't sit until they have laid 3 eggs, sometimes they will sit after 2, so that aspect is quite normal.

I am sure someone else will respond to your question who is far more expericed than i but i hope this helps.

Lib

Stew............a CHOCOLATE cere may well have been too far along in regard to being in condition. CHOCOLATE coloured cere is what happens just before going out of condition and the cere peeling away to go whitish blue. Best time for condition of hens is light to medium brownish.

Your timing was wrong. But also of note is not too many GOOD hens are discarded to pet supply places. The best hens come from breeding your own. More often than not hens found at pet stores may have issues. I would try her again though, as I feel sure you left it too late the last time. Chocolate cere now. Light brownish yes.

If you are after good birds, come to metropolitan Budgerigar Club meetings ( early though around 9:30 ) as there is always birds for sale. PM me for contact details for another show breeder who had many birds for sale last meeting.

Edited April 12, 201015 yr by KAZ

Stew............a CHOCOLATE cere may well have been too far along in regard to being in condition. CHOCOLATE coloured cere is what happens just before going out of condition and the cere peeling away to go whitish blue. Best time for condition of hens is light to medium brownish.

Your timing was wrong. But also of note is not too many GOOD hens are discarded to pet supply places. The best hens come from breeding your own. More often than not hens found at pet stores may have issues. I would try her again though, as I feel sure you left it too late the last time. Chocolate cere now. Light brownish yes.

If you are after good birds, come to metropolitan Budgerigar Club meetings ( early though around 9:30 ) as there is always birds for sale. PM me for contact details for another show breeder who had many birds for sale last meeting.

 

 

 

Thanks.

 

Was attempting to breed my own hens, but couldn't get the first batch off the ground !!!

 

 

Will PM you and get along to a club meeting.

The MBC meetings are great Stew, you will make alot of friends and meet alot of people to ask those questions you have... I enjoy it there and its great to talk about budgies to someone who will talk back about them...

Just be careful with blaming the hen. In my experience, most problems with eggs are a result of careless cocks, or outright egg eating cocks. Sometimes you have to wonder why great looking hens or cocks are being sold and be very careful when breeding with them. This is when observation becomes so important.

 

I have a cock that for the last year has repeatedly made it a habit of kicking eggs around in the nest and breaking them. After an egg is broken almost any budgie will eat it as they are highly nutritious and nutrition is absolutely vital when breeding so they do not waste an opportunity. At first I blamed the hen he was with, but after spending a saturday popping in every so often I finally caught him in the act. Seems he was doing a very good job of cleaning the nest, scratching nesting material out furiously. He was TOO good at it in fact, and didnt stop cleaning even when eggs came about so of course he inadvertantly kicked the eggs. As he was a very good cock I decided to experiment with him and just recently found that once the hen is sitting tight he stops going in the nest box except to feed. I gave the hen marbles and swapped her eggs into a foster nest and at first heard the marbles thunking around, but I have since swapped these with infertile eggs which havent been touched since he stopped going in the box at around 4 eggs laid.

 

Lessons learned:

- Never assume anything, always go on what you see and know.

- Never give up on a cock or hen, be creative (but never risk hens, cocks, eggs or chicks health if AT all possible while experimenting, its not good practice and almost never worth the risk).

- Always be careful with birds you have been sold that look better than they seem (or came unusually cheaply). I could easily sell that cock and say he has filled eggs and raised chicks, which he has. I dont HAVE to mention he is a superb nest-box cleaner who plays a mean game of soccer with eggs... (I would never leave that out, but im saying any breeder can tell you whatever they need to to sell a bird and leave out certain parts...)