My bird laid an egg!! Now what??

[Gone Disney]

I have had a parakeet for a number of years (8?). It is an only bird as it killed the room mate it was intended to keep company. I had no idea that the bird was a female. The bird has been tearing the paper on the bottom of the cage for some time now, I just figured it was bored and this was how it was entertaining itself. Well, DH was cleaning the floor and as he passed by the cage he yelled. I first thought the bird was dead until he told me there were eggs in the cage. There are 2 eggs and they have a slight translucent look to them. Anyone have parakeets that can tell what I do now? DO they need a male to fertilize them? Do I take them out and throw them away? Do I buy something for her? What now? I have no clue what so ever.

Thanks

 

[Cool-Beans]

To the best of my knowledge, you need a boy bird and girl bird to make a third bird.

If you get a new parakeet from a single bird, it will be a miracle.

Wish one of my birds would kill the other. Then I'd just wait for one to die. I really hate my parakeets (but take excellent care of them. Happier birds don't exist.)

 

[Alyssa88]

I have no idea what to tell you, but it seems a congratulations may be in order.

Hope someone can help you, good luck!!

 

[Vivianne]

Lone bird = not fertilized. Other than sitting on it with time she will lose interest. My lovebird lays eggs from time to time. Make sure she has a cuttlebone in the cage for calcium.

 

[ChristmasElf]

Actually with parakeets they usually need several pairs of birds before any of them lay eggs. And then the eggs need to be kept warm until they hatch into some of the homliest little things you ever saw!!!

Since your bird killed the other, these eggs are just eggs and will stink up your entire house if they crack. Just toss them out.

 

[Gone Disney]

She is sitting on them. It is so cute and I still have no clue what I should do. I hat to take them from her, but if they are going to rot. Well, that would just be gross.

Cool-Beans, I've kinda been waiting for this one to die so I know what you mean. The bird is kind of mean and all I do is spend money on her. Go figure, it's a girl. As mean as she is I was certain it was a boy.


Is a cuttlebone all she needs? She has one in her cage now so, I'm good with that. Just seems as if I'm suppose to do something or buy something or... something.

Hmmmmmmm


Thanks
If anyone else has an idea please send it

 

[JESW]

Was the other bird a male? How long ago did he die? Could he have mated with her? It takes a while between mating and when a female lays eggs - can't remember the time off the top of my head. If it wasn't fertilized then there won't be any baby parakeets.

I currently have two cockatiels and nine parakeets. Four of the parakeets are babies from two of my other birds, altho their mother died last year - she actually died from egg binding!

Jill

 

[Vivianne]

S


Is a cuttlebone all she needs? She has one in her cage now so, I'm good with that. Just seems as if I'm suppose to do something or buy something or... something.

Hmmmmmmm


Thanks
If anyone else has an idea please send it

I'm sure she would appreciate a male parakeet but something tells me that's not going to happen. Give her a treat.

 

[ChristmasElf]

I forgot to add that the way you can tell the birds sex, is by the cere. The cere is where the nostrils are. If your bird is male then the cere will be blue. If female, then the cere will be light tan, or a yellowish to dark brown.

Parakeets are usually very friendly towards each other and usually live about 12 years under the right living conditions.
Never put the cage in or near a kitchen as the cooking smells can actually kill the bird.
A cuttlebone is necessary as the bird uses it to sharpen its beak. Gravel is also necessary in the cage as the bird eats the gravel to help digest it's food.
Don't use the gravel sheets on the cage floor. Just buy a box of bird gravel and put some in a clean jar lid on the bottom of the cage.

Don't place a mirror in the cage if you want your bird to talk.

 

[ChristmasElf]

Oh and parakeets love OATS. Go to a good quality bird store to get her seed from. They will sell you the seed for everyday and then get some oats to put in a seperate dish that could be a treat.

 

[chager]

When I was younger my aunt and uncle gave me a parekeet for my birthday.(What a surprise for mom and dad! ) I think I was 8 or 9. I HATED that thing!!! I was all excited when I got her. She was just downright MEAN!!!! If she got out of the cage, which she was very good at springing herself, she would literally attack you. It was not fun to clean her cage either. I'm surprised we don't all have permenant scars from her attacks. We loved her for several years until one day she just died.(She developed some kind of tumor on her head and the vet wasn't sure there was anything to be done but let nature take its course. This was about 25 years ago though so I'm sure alot has changed in knowledge of the birds) My mom cried for a long time because even though she hated that little bird she also found her amusing. I think she laid a couple eggs over the years but mom always gently removed them. I will never ever own another one. Of course we have cats and dogs now so it wouldn't be wise anyhow.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

No babies unless a neighbor's keet has been sneaking in while you are at work

We've successfully raised 12 baby parakeets and 8 baby cockatiels over the course of 2 yrs. No, we didn't intend to, but the birds had other ideas.

If your bird is determined to "be a mom" she will continue to lay eggs and that can harm her in the long run. She's at risk for vitamin and calcium deficiencies or the dreaded egg binding where the egg gets stuck coming out. If not caught in time it can kill her.

Best thing to do is to go to a craft store and get a couple of little craft eggs the same size. Let her out of her cage to fly around a bit and while she isn't looking, swap the eggs out and get rid of the real ones. Most birds will cluelessly sit on the fake eggs.

If she continues to lay eggs, as mentioned, get her a cuttlebone or any other calcium rich block that you can find at any pet store. Give her a shallow dish of water to bath her bottom in for a little bit each day to help keep her vents wet and give her a bit of greens.

I don't have pictures of our baby keets but here are some of our baby tiels that were born starting on Christmas eve, 2005. We kept 6 of the 8 and the other two went to live with one of DW Lauri's employees.

Beaker, Kringle and Pee Wee

Kringle, our first born, born on Christmas eve

Mama Tweezer with the newborns, probably less than a week old at this point - sorry for the size, it's hard to see them if the picture is any smaller.

 

[MissCrystal]

You could eat it.

 

[Vivianne]

Obi-wan those are cute pictures.

Mean. You want mean? Get a lovebird. The female bites so hard it's like a vice grip. She loves my DH but hates me. I'm at the bottom of the bird scale in this house. They've been known to kill their babies. One thing, they're really cute and funny. Hey she keeps DH busy and that's a good thing.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

You could eat it.

Ah eeww. But good to see we got our Miss Crystal! Will you be dialing in any new info? Can't wait to see you operate!

 

[Gone Disney]

JESW, not likely that the other bird even if it was a male could have fertilized anything. She beat him up pretty good the first day we brought her home and he was not with us anymore by the next day. I felt bad because all I wanted to do is get him a friend and this friend killed him. I have no clue why. So I never bought another bird, she's been alone ever since. The cat and dog like to sniff around her cage and she pecks at them if they get too close.

Obi-Wan Pinobi, those sure are some cute babies there.


ChristmasElf, Thanks for the great info especially the tip on how to tell if it's a male or female. Not likely that I'll be buying another bird but it's nice to know.

Yes Vivianne, NO we are not getting a male bird. We have a 4 to 2 ratio here and I'm no going to mess that up. Especially if the bird is going to have little birds that could put the males in a majority around here.


MissCrystal, I could send them to you! Not sure if they'd be good for frying by the time they got there though.


Thanks all.
Guess I'm going to get here some fake eggs Monday and switch them. I don't want a smelly mess in the house but I don't want to make her feel bad either.


I really appreciate the advice. I was quite worried about what to do.

Thanks again.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Now I'm thinking I should get a third bird, because it might kill the other two. But with my luck, I'd end up with 3 happy, sqwaking, feather and food-tossing birds...and baby birds.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Look on the bright side. It's Easter time in the craft stores and you should have no trouble finding replacements.

And on the subject of parakeets killing mates, the mother of our 12 baby parakeets killed her mate after having 2 clutches with him. I'm sticking with Cockatiels from here on out. Much more loving birds towards their mates.

 

[OK!]

Look on the bright side. It's Easter time in the craft stores and you should have no trouble finding replacements.

And if you can't find fake eggs that small, you could probably substitute marbles or something the same size, as long as it's not weirdly colored. (Assuming parakeets aren't color-blind.) My parents have to do the same thing with their hens on occasion, but they use golf balls. Works like a charm, except for one time when we couldn't find a spare white ball lying around and tried to sneak in a hot pink one instead. The hen walked up to the nest, took a look inside, and backed off immediately, like, "How the hell did THAT happen?!"

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

Oh and parakeets love OATS. Go to a good quality bird store to get her seed from. They will sell you the seed for everyday and then get some oats to put in a seperate dish that could be a treat.

What kind of oats do you get? I have a parakeet and he has his regular food, I would like to get him something else for a treat. I love him, he lets himself out every morning and stays out all day until about 8 at night. He is very friendly. He sits on our shoulders off and on all day singing.

Anything else he might like?