Ask Lafeber

Question:

February 5, 2021

Budgie not sitting on egg.


My budgie had been sitting on eggs for last two weeks. But it is not sitting anymore from yesterday. What should I do now?


Answer:

Hi Nahid,

Sometimes a pair will abandon their eggs – I guess the male is also not helping anymore? The eggs may be infertile and the female senses it. Something may have disturbed them – a change indoors or maybe a noise outside. Even a big weather change outside can cause an indoor bird to react, so it could be something like that. If this is the first clutch for the pair, then it is common for them to make mistakes on the first try. If the pair has already had eggs before, did they get a 6 month rest before they laid this clutch? Birds can’t be allowed to breed year round, and if they do, they get worn out and start doing things like getting off the eggs too soon. At this point, she has been off of the eggs for too long, so even if they were fertile, they wouldn’t hatch now. I would take the nest box down and discard the eggs. Rest the pair for 6 months, and then return their nest box and let them try again.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda

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