There are 8 eggs...and counting. How many can they realistically raise? What should I do if more are layed? Also I forgot to number them and havent checked for fertility yet.

How old are your birds?

Normally four is a good number for them to raise but they can do more, I would suggest you get ready with some hand rearing formula just in case you have to help out with some feedings. And if all the eggs hatch only let the pair have this one clutch. You don't have to have them numbers as long as you have an idea or know the day each where laid and can calculate when they will hatch is alright. Checking for fertility is better done when the eggs are about 5 days old so you can see the fine red lines starting She should stop laying soon as by the time the ninth egg appears if fertile the first egg laid will hatch.

:bluebudgie: My Hen has just had her 8th egg :ausb: And it was only a few days ago that she was STILL breeding with one of the males

A retired budgie breeder told me that she once had 10 eggs and all hatched!! But that is very unusual apparently. :bluebudgie:

 

Oh, and my goofy pair have always stopped at 5.

 

A retired budgie breeder told me that she once had 10 eggs and all hatched!! But that is very unusual apparently. :ausb:

 

Oh, and my goofy pair have always stopped at 5.

Edited February 6, 200619 yr by Phoebe

10 ...Awww Just think of all the little feet and wings

Think of all the poop in the box :(Laughing out loud):

My largest has been 6. out of which 4 hatched..... and I've got poop everywhere..

Hi my hen has laid her first clutch of eggs but they don't seem to be hatching. Can you tell me if there is a way to tell if they are fertile or infertile? We're hopeing that they are okay. She's a young bird, only 9 months and he's mature at nearly 6 years. :greenb:

Hi Donna and welcome. How long has she been sitting on the eggs for?

 

She is too young to have a clutch, and you will probably find that she struggles to raise them. Minimum age for a hen to have a clutch is 12 months, I prefer 18 months, as they need to be able to look after sitting on eggs for weeks, then feeding for weeks. Younger hens aren't mature - they don't have all the nutrients to give healthy offspring, and also they can neglect their babies.

 

The male is probably as old as you would like him to be to breed as well. No older. He has quite a job ahead of him with a clutch - feeding Mum for the time she sits on the eggs and starts to raise the babies. He then takes over as they get older. If he is too old, then he can't do his job properly, and the young suffer.

She laid her first egg on 23rd January and has been sitting on them since the 25th January when the second egg was laid. Is there a way to tell if they are fertile?

Thanks.

Hi Donna the first is due today plus or minus a day. you can check them by "Candling" them. I don't mean to put a candle under the egg

 

First wait untill it dark or you have a dark room. Get a strong small torch. carefully put the eggs between the torch and your eye. Not too close. If the egg is dark right through there maybe a chick. If it is clear... no good.

 

There was a good link to etteri's site with photos.. i'll check to see if I can find it.

 

 

Oh one thing..are you prepared for the hatching? Do you know what is going to happen and what can go wrong.?

candling eggs

 

I don't know how good this one is, I lost the link that I usually post. The one on Terri's site should be a good one too, if Daz posts it

candling eggs

 

I don't know how good this one is, I lost the link that I usually post. The one on Terri's site should be a good one too, if Daz posts it

 

No thats perfect Lin...thanks. I now have bookmaked that site. Might put a link from my site.

My father-in-law used to breed budgies so my husband has some idea as to what's going to happen. This is our first attempt at breeding so we'll see how it goes. I've been keeping pet birds for over 20 years and my oldest was 8. I'll post a picture of my 2 love birds as soon as I can. Thanks for your help.

P.S. I am just dying to see what colours they produce. He's a yellow-wing green and she's a violet.

Donna ...thats why we are so involved with them...They are cute, sweet and you just don't know what your going to get in a clutch

:fear No Babies!!!! We candled the eggs, when we could have access to the eggs, she's very protective of those eggs. The eggs were clear with nothing visible inside. Needless to say she's rather upset.

We will wait until around April to replace the nest box and see what happens then.

ow dear poor you