Hen Question...

[Deleted]

Ok, so I've had it confirmed on here that one of my budgies is definitely a female.
When I rescued Benjamina from Gumtree in 2008 she was very young and she came with a male who died suddenly a year later, no illness etc just found dead one day.
Anyway, since then she's been in with three males and has struck up a friendship with Eric.
I don't want her to have babies but I'm interested to know why she hasn't felt the need to breed seeing as she's with three males.
She's really happy with the males and is definitely in charge.
Do females have to have certain surroundings to breed or is she just one that prefers not to.
Eric often gets on top and does his thing and she plays a game with him like she's trying to lift him up.
Sorry but I've mainly had male budgies throughout the years and know little about the breeding side of things...just interested.
Any info much appreciated.

[Rachael Kellett]

Hens won't neccesarily lay eggs just because they are with a cock. I have, in a cage, four males and two females. One of the hens, Lola, is bonded with Milo and has been for about a year now yet she has never laid eggs and I've never seen them get up to any hanky panky loll. I believe that if you don't provide them with a nestbox then there won't be any problems. Obviously it depends on the budgies but I don't think you have anything to worry about, even if she were to, in the future, lay an egg then you could just take it out. Basically what I'm trying to say is that I have had many males and females living together without a single egg

[Deleted]

This is why budgies are easy to keep in that sense. They generally won't breed without a nestbox, as Rachael has said. I believe sometimes hens will lay infertile eggs but that's mainly if they don't have a budgie partner. Limited experience here, so this is mostly speculation and things I've picked up from the much more knowledgeable members of the forum and other people who've kept budgies.

[Hezz]

I too have a hen in with was two, but now one cock. Of course she rules the roost, and she allows Sparky to feed her at times, but no eggs. There is nothing remotely like a nest box for her to get ideas about in the cage.

But she does go through the henny thing of looking for a good place to set herself up in. At the moment she has decided that beside the cutting boards is a good place to try. The boards lean up against a cupboard, and leave a small gap on the bench.

[Deleted]

Thanks everyone... :)x

[sweetie]

Thanks for starting this thread h2o, mines a hen and want to get her a friend at some point but I want a cock this time so good to know I can keep them together with (hopefully) no eggies lol x