I am in a position whereby I had to put some viable eggs under another sitting bird to keep them alive. The mother had left her eggs and wasn't returning to the nest. I had an experienced hen on eggs, 5 of hers, 3 of another birds eggs and the rest I put under her also. She is currently sitting on eleven eggs. As I had no other birds staying in nests yet to hatch out these babies ( some of them are a week away from hatching ) I took a chance and put them in with this bird, She is sitting and keeping them warm, rotating the eggs and I am sure she will discard any that aren't going to hatch. I will candle all eggs and discard any duds. Obviously at hatching or soon after I can foster babies out to other sitting hens. There are some other hens with eggs. I don't expect that there will be 11 babies to raise here, and hopefully some fast juggling will make it all work with the help of foster mothers. I will keep a close eye on the situation and see what eventuates. The hen is being fed in nest by her partner and additionally by myself with extra treats. Will keep you posted.

Edited May 5, 200619 yr by budgiebird

Last breeding season I had a hen sitting on 5 of her own eggs and 3 King Parrot Eggs. If the situation I was in wasnt so desperate I would have never considered it but the king parrot wouldnt sit on her eggs (laid them all over the ground) and the budgie incubated them for me. Once they hatched she only fed them for a day and when she realized they werent hers, she started to attack them. She killed one and I rescued the others (thank God). I had to hand rear them of course, and they turned out to be absolutely gorgeous birds. I hope it doesnt happen again this year! I was amazed just how many eggs they manage to sit on. King Parrot eggs are twice as big as a budgie egg. She did a great job! :hap:

You seem to have a veyr good handle on everything BB. You are lucky you have the options of fostering. Keep us posted.

You seem to have a veyr good handle on everything BB. You are lucky you have the options of fostering. Keep us posted.

Can be stressful, working out the ins and outs as you know. As long as I don't stress the foster mama bird is all that matters. Will relieve her ASAP as the situation arises. Next job, candling eggs. Lost one baby today when the other hen abandoned the nest and broke the shell. Baby was some days away from being born and was alive for a little while. :hap:

Oh, that is too bad :hap:. Fingers crossed that the rest will be okay.

Karen, you can recruit Cheeta and Lin for hand feeding there are enough people around to help you out :hap:. Everything will be okay

Karen, you can recruit Cheeta and Lin for hand feeding :hap: there are enough people around to help you out :hap:. Everything will be okay

Yeah....we're a brilliant bunch on this forum, eh Lovey

(Laughing out loud), i cant imagine the gal being big enough to cover 11 eggs! that just funny to think of, eggs falling out the sides of her! (Laughing out loud)

i hope they all make it :-)

lol, i cant imagine the gal being big enough to cover 11 eggs! that just funny to think of, eggs falling out the sides of her! lol

i hope they all make it :-)

Budgies are clever. They rotate the eggs for warmth anyway and she will discard the duds too. So it will get easier on her I am sure.

if she would let you, take a picture for us to see

if she would let you, take a picture for us to see

She will let me so I will take a picture later today. It is Bonnie ( of Bonnie and Clyde ) that is sitting on the eggs. She is an older mother....a cobalt hen.