Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 3/20/2006

Question
We currently have 1 pair of Redrumps, they have bred and she has just laid her 3rd egg, she was in the nest for a good part of the day and now she is out. Just in case we need to put the eggs in the incubator, do you by chance know what the temp should be. We have just hatched and handraised some baby Gouldians and may have to hatch out the rump eggs.....Any info you can give us would be greatly appriciated...

Thank You

Bobby and Kris

Answer
Hi, Bobby and Kris.  Thanks for posting.

It's been so many years since I've incubated any eggs, I don't recall what temperature eggs need to be kept at.  Seems like 98 degrees F or there about is familiar.  However, incubators come with instructions on required temperatures and humidity levels.  Temp is not the only thing you need to be concerned with, but humidity as well.  You'll need a hygrometer to measure humidity.  If your incubator didn't come with instructions, you'll need to search the internet for information.  If you don't see anything parrot-specific, I think most eggs (chicken, fowl, etc.) are incubated at about the same temps and humidity levels.  Incubating eggs also have to be rotated regularly for the embryos to develop properly (a hen does this in the nestbox).    

It's normal for female parrots on eggs to leave the nest once or twice per day to defecate, drink, and eat (unless the male of the species feeds the female while she is incubating).  Females know how long they can be off their eggs before the eggs start to cool too much.  I wouldn't be too fast to pull the eggs from her and incubate them.  If/when she refuses to incubate her eggs, then I'd consider pulling and incubating them.  But as long as she's going back in after being out for a bit, I wouldn't pull the eggs.  Most parrots start incubating their eggs when the second egg is laid, however, some start incubating when the first is laid, some don't start until the 3d egg is laid.  See what she does before pulling those eggs from the nest and incubating them.

Chrys