Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 10/16/2006

Question
I have a pair of parakeets that are about 3 years old who are obvioulsy breeding. About a month ago, when I changed the water I found an egg in the water. We have since purchased a nesting box but didn't really know how or when to attach it to the cage. We figured the one egg would not incubate since it was in water. Togight when I changed the water I found two more eggs in the water. Why is my female putting them in water? What do I do about it? If I put the nesting box on the cage and contiue to find eggs in the water waht is the next step. I have read that there should be more than one or two eggs at a time. SHould I expect more in the nesting box.? THis pari has obviously mated for life and we would love to raise them either for sale or give away to friends.
KAren Bush  

Answer
Hi, Karen.  Thanks for posting!

Your keets are likely laying their eggs in the water dish because they don't have a nesting box to lay them in.  Why they picked the water dish I don't know...most parrots without a nesting box just lay their eggs on the cage bottom!  What you can do about it is to either put the nesting box up or remove the water dish and get your keets drinking from a water bottle.  I really don't think you'll find eggs in the water dish if you put a nesting box up.  

Keets will lay 1 egg every other day until they have a full clutch of about 6-8 eggs.  If/once you put up a nesting box, your keets may start a new clutch and lay 6-8 eggs in the box (even though they've already laid 3 eggs).  

Please think about what you are getting yourself into BEFORE you make the decision to allow your keets to lay eggs and hatch babies, i.e., before you put up a nesting box.  If you want the babies to be tame, you'll need to pull them from the parents at about 7 days of age and handfeed them with a handfeeding syringe and baby parrot handfeeding formula.  This is quite a job, along with all the rest of the things you'll need to learn!  If babies aren't tame, you might not be able to sell or give them away.  Visit my website for a taste of things you need to learn/know and come back with any questions.

http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html

Chrys