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Post by kim1 on Mar 21, 2005 11:35:19 GMT 10
the new hen I got 2 weeks ago has already claimed a nest box and started laying, but the first egg 2days ago I found on the ground cracked, now a new egg has also been thrown out, why does she do this? She is 4 years old and has raised 3 batches of chicks no problems, but the last 2 clutches were infertile as the males in the cage withher were less than 12 mths old. Anything I can do, I really, really want her to give me some nice bubbas.
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Post by jeremy on Mar 21, 2005 14:33:38 GMT 10
I'm not really sure how you can stop them from doing this, some of my lovebirds throw an egg out from time to time. I don't know why they do it either
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Post by hillcresttiels on Mar 21, 2005 15:50:48 GMT 10
Hi Kim i have never seen a Cockatiel hen throw out eggs as it would be impossible to grab a whole egg and throw it out but what i have seen a lot is cracked eggs that have been attached to their chest with incubation and dried up on their chest only to have it hit the floor when they come out and fly around of the box!...  Usually eager males jump into the box rather than climb the ladder and land on the eggs only to crack them or put holes in them is the ladder ok for them and what size nest boxes do you use cheers frank |
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Post by kim1 on Mar 21, 2005 16:27:16 GMT 10
Hi Frank,I'm useing ringneck boxes for now untill hubby makes me some smaller ones,the box has a strip of wire running down the inside from the hole to the floor for a ladder, I haven't seen her throw the eggs out just found them on the cage floor cracked, the latest one was a long way from the box.
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Post by hillcresttiels on Mar 21, 2005 16:32:46 GMT 10
ok Kim from what you say I'm pretty confident the eggs are cracked or have holes due to one of them jumping into the box rather than climbing,then what happens as the brooding begins and possibly at this early stage i'd say its the hen at night who is incubating cracked eggs which then stick to her chest and hit the ground after she comes out. Good time to observe the entry to the box and see which of the pair is the culprit,my guess it's the cock cheers Frank
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Post by AussieBirds on Mar 21, 2005 19:14:00 GMT 10
I have had exactlly the same thing happen to me with one of my budgies and I actually saw the egg stuck to the birds chest as she was coming out of the nest box. I think Frank has hit the nail right on the head and the egg was stuck to the hen, it's those rough males that cause the problem Kim isnt it always the way ;D ;D
John
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Post by lovemytiels on Mar 22, 2005 4:26:29 GMT 10
Hi Kim, I have experienced this myself when putting an immature male with an experienced female. The males do seem to be a bit clumsy, cracking the eggs. I myself prefer to use ladders made of wood for the nest boxes. Like you I thought the eggs were being chucked out till I saw the eggs stuck to the chest of the female. The males do settle down in time, but sometimes it takes them 2 or 3 goes to get it right. If it keeps happening , take the nest box away for say a month then try again as I find this helps with the problem with the eager & clumsy male  ;D Cheers Anna |
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Usually eager males jump into the box rather than climb the ladder and land on the eggs only to crack them or put holes in them is the ladder ok for them and what size nest boxes do you use 
;D Cheers Anna