My female budgie layed several infertile eggs and just one fertile. The baby chirps loud from a crack of the egg. I have heard this going for more than 24 hours. She sits on it but does nothing to help it hatch. Is there anything I can do to help? Is this normal?
Hi Pat,
This is a difficult situation as it is hard to know when and if to intervene with a hatching. Since you can hear the chick, this is very good. He will still have the yolk sac for nourishment, even for a few hours after hatching, and he is getting air since he is making noise. If the female is tolerant, try to examine the egg and see if it seems very dry inside. They can dry out to the point that it makes it hard to hatch. But hatching can also take 48 hours, so things may be normal. You might search for videos on assisting a hatch – but be careful of the source. Try to find one by a Vet or breeder. If you pull the shell away too early, the chick can bleed to death. If the shell has dried inside, sometimes you can warm some sterile saline solution, such as for eyes, and add a drop here and there. But I would definitely try to find a video that shows the technique. I’m not comfortable trying to describe what to do, because it can be a very delicate process. I do hope it works out and the chick survives.
Thank you for asking Lafeber,
Brenda
