Dud eggs

[lanah]

What do people usually do with eggs that are most likely not going to hatch? My budgies laid 6 eggs, the last one January 20th, with 2 chicks hatching. By now I think it's safe to say the other 4 eggs are duds. Do I leave them in the next box? Remove them? Will leaving them in the next box confuse the hen?

[tweetiepiesmom]

I have read that after about 22 days a budgie egg will not hatch. I've also read people saying that when the hen goes out the nest, they pull out the dud eggs, boil them and put them back when they cool. Once the hen abandons them, they throw them away. They boil them to prevent them from breaking open and getting all over the nest and possibly spreading bacteria. I also read that you can get "dummy" eggs to replace the duds with until the hen abandons them. People have said if they remove the eggs, the hen may continue laying. This is just what I read. Hopefully someone with experience breeding budgies will jump on with first hand knowledge.

Congratulations on the new family - so exciting!