Hi! I sent a question a few weeks back about my 2yr old cockatiels that laid 5 eggs. It’s been 28 days and they appear to be infertile. In the evenings, they both leave the nest box for a few mins so I can peak inside. I’ve shined a flashlight on the eggs and they are still yellow. What is the best way to remove the eggs/nest box? They continue to take turns sitting on them and have not yet abandoned them.
Hi Kim,
I would let the pair sit for at least another week. The incubation period begins when the hen starts to sit, and she does not always begin with the first egg. Also, the incubation is the same for each egg, so since they are laid every other day, the full incubation period should be counted as 30 days after the last egg is laid. It’s an average of 18-23 days, but always good to wait 30 days just in case. Since they are learning, it’s good for them to stay with the eggs and learn patience. If you remove the box too early, you could teach them to quit on a clutch too early. I would wait for 30 days from when the last egg was laid, unless they leave first or start mating and showing signs of starting a new clutch. It’s a really good sign that they will end up being good breeders since they are so dedicated to these eggs.
Thanks for the update,
Brenda
