posted 01-09-2004 08:12 AM           

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Hi.
I've had two budgies for quite a while now, I've had the male for at least 6 years and the female for about 3 years. The female has just recently started laying eggs, but as we haven't let the male and female near each other, they haven't mated. They are in seperate cages and have been since we bought them, although when they exercise, one is often perched on the side of the others cage.
I've noticed that she sits on the floor of the cage and tries to keep the egg warm, even though it can't be fertile. She also shreds any sandpaper we put down for her and is very protective over the egg. Please could anybody guve me any information as to what I should be doing, I don't know whether I should remove the eggs because it appears as though she may be eating them :/
Any help would be great.
Thank you in advance,
Sarah

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posted 01-09-2004 10:55 AM         

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Hi, if she is eating the eggs remove them and move things around in her cage like toys and perches also move the cage somewhere else in the room or a different room this should stop her laying.

If she is not eating the eggs and is sitting them leave her with the eggs for the 19days incubation period then remove the eggs also remove any thing she may use as a nest like houses or huts.
Hens that are laying or have eggs do become protective and can become very agressive.
mike

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posted 01-09-2004 11:39 AM         

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Right, thank you very much, I'll do that.
Your advice is very helpful and your response is greatly appreciated.

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posted 01-09-2004 01:45 PM         

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Sorry to be a pain, but she's just laid another egg, that's two in as many days. Is this frequency of laying unfertilised eggs normal? And if it's not how do I stop it? I'm worried it's going to drain her physically, and I'm not very experienced in the 'maternal' care of budgies.

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posted 01-10-2004 02:45 AM         

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Hi,Budgies lay eggs every other day and there average clutch size is 6 make sure she has cuttlefish bone, vitamin block, fresh fruit and veg as this will help keep her calcium levels up as egg laying lowers there calcium and excesive egg laying can result in death in some birds.

mike

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