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Birds--General/laying the eggs
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Question
Dear Mr. Meatyard,
It's me again! This time I wanna ask about how long it takes for a hen to lay a single egg. What I mean is does she sit in there all day laying her egg or does it take hours.
Thank You!
Love,
Mariya
Hi again, Mariya.
Call me Chrys, Mariya (I'm a woman)! Let me explain the egg laying process.
Once a pair of birds mate, and fertilization of the zyote (I think it's called a zyote) occurs, the fertilized zyote/egg/embryo travels down the reproductive path of the female gaining all the different parts needed for the inside of the egg (it takes about 10 days after mating though for the first egg to be laid). The egg shell itself is the last thing that is produced just before the egg is laid. Once the egg shell itself is produced, the egg is soon laid. The female does not keep the egg inside her body for any length of time once the egg shell is produced. The actual laying of the egg itself doesn't take much time (seconds to minutes, depending on size of the egg), but it takes somewhere between 24-48 hours for the fertilized embryo to travel the full length of the reproductive tract and for the egg shell to develop.
Does this answer your question?
Chrys
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Answers by Expert:
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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