Ask Lafeber

Question:

June 29, 2021

My budgie laid the egg in cage floor


Hi, I need your help expert. My budgie already laid 2 eggs which they broke themselves, today they laid another egg, I think they broke their eggs because they laid it in the cage floor because my cage in too small so I could not provide a nesting box for them, so when they laid they first egg I took their egg and kept it in some cotton but they broke the first and the second egg the next day, now they laid their third egg and I don’t want them to break it, I don’t know why they are doing this, did they laid unfertile egg or did they broke it because I touched it, please help me man, I want them to give rise to a new chick but I don’t know what to do they just broke their two eggs already and I can’t manage to put a nesting box for them also so what can I do now shall I provide a earthen pot for them because I think that if I again touch their egg they might again break it please help ????????


Answer:

Hi Ayush,

Unfortunately you can’t try to breed birds without having the right size cage and the right kind of breeding box. The birds are breaking their eggs because they know they do not have a suitable breeding environment. It has nothing to do with you touching the eggs. No, an earthen pot will not be suitable for a nest. They need a large cage, the right kind of nest box, a nutritionally balanced diet such as pellets or our foraging diets, fresh greens and veggies, egg food and a private place. You have to avoid any contact with them other than to check on them and feed them. It’s not easy or inexpensive to breed birds, and it’s not good to try to do this without everything they need. A pot will not be large enough, and it won’t contain the chicks if any were to hatch. The pottery would be too cold and could chill the hen and keep the eggs from staying warm enough. They need a nest box made of wood, with one entry hole. You also have to be prepared if they did raise chicks. The chicks must be removed from the parents as soon as they are weaned. Otherwise the parents will attack them, because their instinct is to drive the weaned chicks away to prevent related birds from breeding. If they let the chicks stay, then once the chicks are old enough, they will breed with each other or with the parents. If you keep the chicks, you can’t keep males and females together. So in addition to the breeding cage, you need at least two more cages for the chicks. Even if you plan to give the chicks away, you would need one more cage to keep them in until you find homes for them. Until you can provide all of this, do not give the parents anything to use as a nest and do not let them sit on the eggs. Breeding birds is a responsibility, and if not done correctly, the eggs rarely hatch or the chicks do not survive, and this is much more heartbreaking than the parents breaking the eggs.

Thank you for Asking Lafeber,

Brenda

Subscribe to our newsletter

Click here to subscribe to our newsletter

×

Join our Lafeber Flock

Enjoy our Pet Birds' weekly newsletter, featuring captivating stories, care tips, and more.
Opt for Small Mammals' monthly edition for delightful facts about rabbits, guinea pigs, and more.
Choose our monthly Backyard Chickens newsletter for insightful information to keep your flock happy.
*