Confused..

[Phill]

OK, I saw the Green Cheek Hen, out the box, which I haven't seen her for about a week. From 5 egg's there is only 2 So they must have eaten the other 3.. I ran back inside to get the candler so I could candle them, but as soon as she saw me come back out, she ran in the box and wont come back out.. Grrr
Question:
Why do you think they have eaten them? Do you think it's possible, that the other 3 weren't fertile, that's why they ate them and left the 2 fertile ones? Pretty disappointed, as I thought they had been doing a great job.. Been giving them plenty of food, but very upset to see 3 of the egg's gone.. What do you think is the cause of her or him eating the eggs?

[AussieBirds]

Phil she may not be the culprit, I am having the same problem with my budgies at the moment and believe it or not its lizards that are eating the eggs, usually biting a hole in them and eating the insides out of them, have you found any empty eggs with just a single piece bitten out of it? I was blaming mice at first but I am pretty sure the little scaly critters are to blame.

John

[Phill]

No, John I haven't seen any eggs like that. Infact, I didn't see any sighns of yolk, egg shell or anything..

[grego]

Sorry to hear Phill.. l find Drop tail lizards a problem hanging around this time of year being warmer for they are more active.Also you may find Rats or Mice scaring the female out of the box them getting the egg and going away..... so the female goes back in the box after all is calm, like nothing has happenned...
Something l use when this happens is try hanging with fishing line a CD outside the avairy so when the porch light is on it will scare them from the reflection from it..(birds will be fine as long as you hang it during the day for them to get used to)..

[Phill]

Thank's Greg, will give it a go.

[Phill]

Ok, I candled the 2 remaining eggs. Egg no.1, I saw a vein, and also a very dark spot on the skinny part of the egg, and a thick line with stripes through it.. Egg no.2, the same minues the vein and the thick line..

[grego]

Depending on which side of the air sac here l would say it is fertile having a vein in it.(candling the oppossite side of the egg's air sack can give you a dark end)
Egg number 2 is a hard one,As long as there is no green tinge about it..... dark is a good sign and not seeing vein mean's it has developed and ready to hatch so in my opinion it's only my opnion..you will have one hatchling coming soon
Good luck Phill keep us updated

[Phill]

I candled the egg's again.
1 of them is addled. or DIS and the other one is still going strong and is fertile..

Also the infertile egg has also dissapeared..

[grego]

Good to hear at least the fertile egg is still there,as for the infertile dissapearing l have run out of answer's.... except that next time before they nest place the box outside the avairy with half a boiled egg in it with a mouse trap..this way you will find if it is something outside you avairy is causing this problem...Good luck with the last egg and keep us updated on any news

[Phill]

Will do Greg. Thank's

[avril]

Phil DIS. This can be caused because the egg dries out I usually put an extra water bath in the nest aviary. I have all my breeders in single cabinets and they are in a breeding shed and with the hot dry weather we have had here I have lost some as well. Where abouts in Vic are you as it could be weather related.


Here is a link that might help www3.sympatico.ca/davehansen/eggs.html

[vankarhi]

That looks like a good line Avril ;D

[Jane]

Very informative Avril

[Laraine]

I've had lots of eggs disappear and I don't get lizards in my aviary. I have noticed sometimes the eggs are on the floor and have been broken into. I sometimes give my birds chook egg shells and they love them. Could be where they are going!!!