Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 12/7/2007

Question
We have a pair of budgies, that have laid there second clutch of eggs.  She has eight in total.  The first three hatched, but the next two in the line have not.  We purchased our budgie a nesting box at the local pet store.  It is plastic.  With three babies in the nest pooping, the eggs are covered.  Will this prevent the eggs from hatching?  Should I be cleaning the eggs.  I have tried putting bedding in the box, but the female budgie puts it out of the box.

Answer
Hi, Lborth,

Eight eggs is a lot of eggs in a single clutch for a budgie.  Could this bird have laid 2 clutches one right after the other (with a short break in between)?

The poop on the eggs could keep them from hatching, it just depends on many things.  You can try to remove some of the poop by using a Q-Tip dipped in warm water.  Very gently moisten the poop with a Q-Tip, then use another Q-Tip to clean off as much poop as possible.  Do not submerge the eggs in water to clean them, use a Q-Tip and be gentle.  Do not touch the eggs with your bare skin.  Oil/dirt from your skin can also keep the eggs from hatching.  Depending on how far along the eggs are in incubation, they may still hatch if they are viable and have developed properly.  

Budgies do not like nesting material in their nesting box.  However, I like to put a thin layer of pine shavings in the box after babies are a few days old in order to help keep them dry/clean from their feces.  

You may want to candle the remaining eggs once cleaned to see if they are viable and remove any that aren't.  This will help solve the problem.

Chrys