Birds--General/kicking eggs

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Expert: - 2/3/2007


Question
hi!
i have a female that mated with a mate. they layed 3 eggs and 2 hatched. the last egg i think no chick is inside since it didnt hatch for a long time.the female and male keeps on pushing their beaks on the egg to the side. but a couple of minutes later,she would push it back under her. whi is she doing this? also the baby birds that hatched keeps on pooping on the eeg. it comes off but leaves a stain. will it harm the egg? is it ok?

Answer
Hi again, Katelyn.

She is most likely pushing the egg away because she knows nothing is inside the egg.  Maybe she forgets why she has previously pushed the egg aside and puts it back under her.  

If there is any bacteria or other contamination in the baby birds' feces, then, yes, the poop could affect the egg that hasn't hatched.  However, if the female is pushing the egg aside, and it's been more than 18 days since incubation started on the last egg, then it probably isn't gong to hatch to begin with.  You can candle the egg to see what's going on inside it.  I wouldn't know if the egg is OK or not...you'd have to candle it in order to find out what's going on inside the egg and/or have accurate dates as to when the egg was laid and incubation started in order to try to determine what's going on.  This is why it's important to keep very good records of everything that goes on when your birds are laying eggs/hatching babies.  

Chrys

Birds--General

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Chrys Meatyard

Expertise

I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.

Experience

Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.

Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.

Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.

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