Aug 12, 2019 15:44:50 GMT
Biggles
Normal Violet
Posts: 165
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Post by Biggles on Aug 8, 2021 21:47:50 GMT
There is an egg in the nest box! I have no idea whether this will be fertile or not, because whenever we've seen any attempts at mating it didn't look too experienced. I have a very happy boy who's been watching them carefully for weeks. A couple of questions. Firstly he's been worrying about the hen being egg bound since he read about it. Having got one out, can I tell him he doesn't need to worry about this any more? Secondly his new bed (for him) is due to arrive very shortly. The cage is in his room. Is putting the bed up going to cause them any stress? He's worried the change/noise (although it shouldn't be noisy-it's screws I think) will upset them. He does really need a new bed; he's a quickly growing 14yo with the bed he had as a toddler... And lastly, anything from the experienced breeders to help. He's been feeding them spinach and other greens and lots of egg food as well as normal seeds. Do they need anything extra? She's a very proud mum at the moment and keeps turning the egg round and sitting on it, snuggled up to dad. Anything else useful to know?
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Post by skysmum on Aug 8, 2021 22:02:53 GMT
Awwww, what a lovely experience for your son, there is nothing lovelier than watching this beautiful event, IF it all works out ok. The hen can still get egg bound though im afraid, so a close eye. You will need to put some wood shavings in, the hen will likely keep moving it out but just keep adding a bit, it helps the babies legs, they can get splayed legs if there is nothing to prevent them from slipping about. I would probably hold off on the bed while she is laying, it doesn't take much to put them off at this stage. Good luck
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Aug 12, 2019 15:44:50 GMT
Biggles
Normal Violet
Posts: 165
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Post by Biggles on Aug 9, 2021 16:30:11 GMT
Thank you! He was a bit worried this morning because she didn't want to move from the nest, but this afternoon she became very lively when he produced the spinach!
Question on the wood chippings. I've ordered them, but should he spread them now with the eggs there or wait until the chicks have hatched?
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Aug 12, 2019 15:44:50 GMT
Biggles
Normal Violet
Posts: 165
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Post by Biggles on Aug 10, 2021 19:57:57 GMT
Sorry more questions.
Now 2 eggs. But they're different colours. They're both still pale, but the first egg is definitely a shade darker. Does that mean anything?
Also she's a very proud mum, and you can hear her moving the eggs round etc, but ds is getting worried that she isn't sitting on the eggs long enough. She sat on them quite a while this afternoon (even when the spinach was produced) but when he went up she was out of the nest box and spent some time eating and grooming each other. Is this normal, or should she be sitting most of the time?
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Post by skysmum on Aug 10, 2021 20:35:46 GMT
I would probably wait now until the chicks hatch before adding the wood chips.
Sometimes the hen wont start incubating full time until the second or even third egg is laid so don't worry too much. The colour and size of the eggs can vary, sometimes the darker ones are infertile but not always. Keep a record of dates that the eggs were laid so that you can get a rough idea of hatch dates.
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Aug 12, 2019 15:44:50 GMT
Biggles
Normal Violet
Posts: 165
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Post by Biggles on Aug 10, 2021 23:17:49 GMT
Thank you!
That's really helpful. I think the egg has got darker since being laid, but not sure. It's difficult to remember. My son has a book which he's carefully ( or rather getting me-because he hates writing anything down- to) recording each egg. Apparently he heard this egg come out, he thinks. He'd just checked on them, one egg, gave them spinach, heard a little bump and she didn't come out so checked she was okay, and there was a second egg. He came down to tell me both the budgies are cuddled up together in the nest box so is feeling happier.
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Aug 12, 2019 15:44:50 GMT
Biggles
Normal Violet
Posts: 165
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Post by Biggles on Aug 13, 2021 0:34:08 GMT
Three eggs now. And we very carefully tried candling yesterday (so 4 days old) and I think I could see a dark area at the top of one, so fingers crossed. Violet's (hen) coming out less and less, although can't resist coming out when there's spinach. She tried standing at the nest box entrance and shouting at Rose (yes, Rose is male, just was named by my son because his cere was a beautiful rose pink when we got him) to hurry up and bring some for her, then gave up and chased him out of the way so she could grab a few mouthfuls before retreating back again to the eggs.
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Post by Hezz on Aug 14, 2021 1:14:25 GMT
A great photo, as well. Very moody/soft focus, even if not aimed to be that way. . It is one to treasure.
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Aug 12, 2019 15:44:50 GMT
Biggles
Normal Violet
Posts: 165
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Post by Biggles on Aug 24, 2021 21:17:37 GMT
I think they're completed with 6 eggs. A good number for a first time mum I think. 3 of the eggs look darker than the other three, so I'm hoping that means 3 are fertile. Mum is very carefully sitting on them and turning them round, you can hear her shifting them all the time. She comes out very occasionally, watches dad eating then goes back in and waits for him to come.
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Post by ffiscool on Aug 24, 2021 21:25:03 GMT
Nature is amazing, I hope you get your 3
Well done mum
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Aug 24, 2021 21:43:49 GMT
How exciting for you and us hearing about it! Good luck to all.
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Post by ariella on Aug 25, 2021 22:00:20 GMT
What a wonderful clutch of eggs and a dedicated mum. Really hope everything goes well and you can share gorgeous baby photos with us.
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Post by skysmum on Aug 25, 2021 22:07:07 GMT
Look forward to updates
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Aug 12, 2019 15:44:50 GMT
Biggles
Normal Violet
Posts: 165
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Post by Biggles on Aug 25, 2021 22:26:10 GMT
Bit of time to wait yet. I reckon that the earliest possible hatching would be on the 28th, however I don't think the first ones were fertile, so it'll be longer before we can see any chicks.
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Aug 12, 2019 15:44:50 GMT
Biggles
Normal Violet
Posts: 165
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Post by Biggles on Aug 28, 2021 9:52:31 GMT
And we have chick #1. Baby is very noisy! If all 6 hatch out then my son is going to have a very noisy bedroom He's happy anyway. Anything he needs to be doing?
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