Ask Lafeber

Why are my budgies not sitting on there eggs 24/7

Hi I have too parakeets and they had been laying eggs in the cage for for a while and I read that you have to by them A nesting area so I did and I’ve been realizing she laid four eggs and isn’t sitting on them all day every day she sits on them most of the mornings and evenings and then at night she didn’t really sit on them as much I don’t know if that’s an issue or she’s just like taking a break I also read that it could be because she lied to many eggs but that was a person that hand laid 8 to 10 eggs and she only has four it’s been about two years since I bought her

Hi,

This is very common with first clutches. They really don’t know what to do, so they end up messing things up in some way. Let her practice with these eggs, then once she stops, remove the nest box and rest the pair for 6 months. Then you can replace the box and let them try again. The nest box should be hung on the outside of the cage, as high as possible. The cage should be in a quiet area and the parents need a lot of privacy. If they do not feel safe, they won’t stay in the nest box.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda