Ask Lafeber

My budgie is laying too small eggs

I have many pair of breeding buddies but 1 pair the female lays toooo small eggs can u say me what is the reason behind it

Hi,

Often this happens with a hen that is too young, too old or has been over bred. It’s best to wait to set up a pair when they are about 2 years old. Younger birds really are not physically and mentally developed enough to breed. Breeding birds need to be on a nutritionally balanced diet – not just seed – as well as offering extra protein and calcium for the females. A commercial egg food, or cooked eggs with the shell washed, crushed and cooked with the eggs should be offered daily. A hen has been overbred if she is allowed to breed more than twice a year. A pair should be rested from breeding for 6 months between each clutch. It’s also important to only have one pair of birds per cage for breeding – this way you know for sure which birds are mating with each other. I would rest this pair of birds for 6 months, and if she still lays small eggs, she probably should not be used as a breeder.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda