I have a pair of parakeets that have fertile eggs that should be hatching real soon. I have been checking on them but this morning the hen came out of the nest box looking quite haggard and weak. I picked her up and when she let me do that I knew something was wrong. I tried to feed her but she is at the point that she does not want to eat. I noticed how thin she is so I am guessing the male was not feeding her. They are both about 15 mos old so they are old enough to breed.

I am guessing the hen will not make it but now I am worried about the eggs. I have two other pairs that iIcould put the eggs with but the first couple have already had their eggs hatch and are almost weaned. The second pair's eggs are hatching now so it may work out with them but the last time I put some eggs in with her she threw out all of the eggs and started over.

Do you think I could try the second pair again and if so what is the proper way the foster them over?

I do not want to leave the eggs with the father as he may not feed them since he did not feed the mom and he does not go into the nest box to sit on them.

I do have some english budgies that i may be able to foster them to but I have waited 1 year for them to start breeding so I do not want to take any chances with them.

Any suggestions?

Valerie

Hi Valerie. If the eggs are fertile and she had begun to incubate them, then the time she has been off them now will have let them go cold. That means the chicks are more than likely now dead in shell.