Eggs

[AussieLovi]

Hi, I have two rosy-faced lovebirds and they have laid four eggs. The first was laid the 25th December and none have hatched. I candled them and two showed yellow (dead) and the other two were viable as I could see one move and the veins. It is now day 25 and she is still sitting on them and ripping up paper.
How do i know if the remaining two are dead? Will she automatically stop sitting and caring for them?
Any advice is appreciated.
Kim.

 

[Zara]

. I candled them and two showed yellow (dead)

Those were likely never fertile if they are still yellow.

So if the first egg was the 25th. Then approximately, the two we are talking about were laid on the 29 and 31 Dec... They should be hatching any minute now. The first could have hatched yesterday, but as we don´t have a concrete laid date, nor when your bird started brooding, I would be expecting the eggs to hatch in the coming days.
Wait a full week from now. Let us know how you get on

 

[AussieLovi]

Oh thanks so much!!!!!!
Yes the eggs were laid 25 December, 27 December, 29 December and 31 December.
Brills. I will wait another week and see how they go.
Fingers crossed!!!!!

 

[Zara]

Yes the eggs were laid 25 December, 27 December, 29 December and 31 December.

That is nice steady laying
My hen Aldora lays like that - like clockwork.

If your hen was brooding the eggs from the day the 3rd egg was laid (or before then), then you should have had one hatch yesterday/today, and the next in a day or two.

Lots of factors can alter the incubation period, so for now, I would still keep an eye out an expect them to hatch.

 

[AussieLovi]

Oh thanks. I thought they were over due and was worried they had died.

I will keep an eye on them and give them more time

Thanks again

 

[AussieLovi]

Its been like this for a week... Any ideas? I think it is dead

 

[Zara]

It doesn´t look promising but I don´t want to say that based soley on a photograph.

Leave the eggs alone with the hen until later this week, then take them away if not hatched.
When you take the eggs, give the cage a shuffle; move all the perches and food bowls etc maybe add a new toy and some foraging activities, allow lots of out of cage time. This will all help her to overcome, and move on.

 

[Mockinbirdiva]

Hi Kim, do you know the age of your hen? I just want to add one thing if in the event the remaining eggs don't hatch. If you have provided a nest box for your pair I would remove the box when you give your cage a shuffle to discourage her from laying again for quite a while. She should be given ample time to recover from the egg laying process. You do not want her to become a chronic egg layer. What is the complete diet you feed your pair?

 

[AussieLovi]

Sounds like a plan. Thanks! Do I wait for her to stop caring for the eggs or just take them?

Thanks as always!

 

[AussieLovi]

Hi Kim, do you know the age of your hen? I just want to add one thing if in the event the remaining eggs don't hatch. If you have provided a nest box for your pair I would remove the box when you give your cage a shuffle to discourage her from laying again for quite a while. She should be given ample time to recover from the egg laying process. You do not want her to become a chronic egg layer. What is the complete diet you feed your pair?

I give her parrot seeds, kale/spinach, millet, egg shells etc. I will def take away the nest box for a bit and let her rest.... thanks!
I think she is a year old.

 

[Zara]

Do I wait for her to stop caring for the eggs or just take them?

I worked out that they were due thursday so give it an extra week and if she hasn´t abandoned them of her own accord by thursday coming, I would remove them.

egg shells

be sure that is ground down to powder.

I give her parrot seeds, kale/spinach, millet, egg shells etc

Spinach must be only given in moderation. Too much and it will impede calcium absorbtion.
Offer, broccoli, peas, carrots, peppers, bok choy, sesame seed, dill and other calcium rich foods.
Then you need a source of vitamin D3 so your bird is able to take that calcium from those foods. You won´t have that in the things you listed, so either your bird needs daily access to unfiltered sunlight, or parrot pellets that have vitamin D3 included. Another alternative is supplements (I don´t know much about those, but I´m sure other members here will).

 

[Mockinbirdiva]

Calciboost is a great alternative to providing calcium with D3 included. There are a few different brands but I am only familiar with the brand Calciboost. It comes in a liquid and powdered form. You can google it for different suppliers but I ususally link to this website:

Calciboost - Bird Care Company - Liguid Calcium Supplement - Vitamins and Minerals

Bird Care Company's Calciboost Liquid Calcium Supplement for Caged Birds - Bird Breeding Supplies

glamgouldians.com

Bird Care Company Powder Calciboost ON FOOD - Powdered Calcium Supplement

Calciboost Powder On food-calcium powder for birds - Calcium Supplement with D3 and magnesium - ideal for breeding and growing birds - Glamorous Gouldians

glamgouldians.com

 

[AussieLovi]

I worked out that they were due thursday so give it an extra week and if she hasn´t abandoned them of her own accord by thursday coming, I would remove them.


be sure that is ground down to powder.


Spinach must be only given in moderation. Too much and it will impede calcium absorbtion.
Offer, broccoli, peas, carrots, peppers, bok choy, sesame seed, dill and other calcium rich foods.
Then you need a source of vitamin D3 so your bird is able to take that calcium from those foods. You won´t have that in the things you listed, so either your bird needs daily access to unfiltered sunlight, or parrot pellets that have vitamin D3 included. Another alternative is supplements (I don´t know much about those, but I´m sure other members here will).

Thanks so much for this information..

 

[AussieLovi]

It doesn´t look promising but I don´t want to say that based soley on a photograph.

Leave the eggs alone with the hen until later this week, then take them away if not hatched.
When you take the eggs, give the cage a shuffle; move all the perches and food bowls etc maybe add a new toy and some foraging activities, allow lots of out of cage time. This will all help her to overcome, and move on.

Thanks for this advice.. I will follow end of week

 

[AussieLovi]

Calciboost is a great alternative to providing calcium with D3 included. There are a few different brands but I am only familiar with the brand Calciboost. It comes in a liquid and powdered form. You can google it for different suppliers but I ususally link to this website:

Calciboost - Bird Care Company - Liguid Calcium Supplement - Vitamins and Minerals

Bird Care Company's Calciboost Liquid Calcium Supplement for Caged Birds - Bird Breeding Supplies

glamgouldians.com

Bird Care Company Powder Calciboost ON FOOD - Powdered Calcium Supplement

Calciboost Powder On food-calcium powder for birds - Calcium Supplement with D3 and magnesium - ideal for breeding and growing birds - Glamorous Gouldians

glamgouldians.com

Thanks - I will check it out!

 

[AussieLovi]

I worked out that they were due thursday so give it an extra week and if she hasn´t abandoned them of her own accord by thursday coming, I would remove them.


be sure that is ground down to powder.


Spinach must be only given in moderation. Too much and it will impede calcium absorbtion.
Offer, broccoli, peas, carrots, peppers, bok choy, sesame seed, dill and other calcium rich foods.
Then you need a source of vitamin D3 so your bird is able to take that calcium from those foods. You won´t have that in the things you listed, so either your bird needs daily access to unfiltered sunlight, or parrot pellets that have vitamin D3 included. Another alternative is supplements (I don´t know much about those, but I´m sure other members here will).

I also have calcium and mineral blocks around their cage which they love pecking at...