Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 5/11/2006

Question
A couple of my budgies just had a new baby. When they first started laying the eggs, they were just letting the eggs drop from the perch and break. SO I started throwing the eggs away. The mother finally got it and started laying them on the floor and sitting on them. I looked at them in the light and saw nothing in the egg. Then today one hatched, I'm shocked, and not ready for it. The mother has no idea what she's doing, and I'm afraid that the baby will die, along with all the others that hatch. The poor little baby is laying on hard corn cob. Would it be okay to put the eggs and baby on something softer? Or will the mom get confused if they are moved? Also, if the mom doesn't take care of the babies, what do I do?  

Answer
Hi, Nikki.  Thanks for posting.

Actually, the mother should be laying eggs in a nestbox where the babies are supposed to hatch (not on the bottom of the cage).  I'm sure the mother knows what she's supposed to do with her babies...the problem is that she's not happy with them hatching and being on the bottom of the cage.  I'm sure the mother is fearful of their safety there (she would rather be in a nestbox with her babies and the remaining eggs).  The baby might die if she won't care for it where it is on the cage bottom.  You could try adding a nestbox to the cage and placing any hatched babies and the remaining unhatched eggs in the box (use gloves...don't let your bare skin touch any unhatched eggs) and be very careful handling the little baby.  Do not put anything in the nestbox such as pine/cedar shavings, etc...leave completely empty of substrate on the bottom.  You could try placing the baby/eggs on something softer without a nestbox, but the mom may not go for this.  You really need a nestbox for them.  

If mom doesn't take care of the babies, it's up to you to take over or the babies will die.  See my website for information on handfeeding, etc.:
http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html

I doubt you know how to handfeed baby parrots (and it's EXTREMELY difficult due to their size at hatching).  Therefore, your best bet is to get a parakeet nestbox at a local pet shop, connect it to the cage, put the babies/eggs in it, and see what happens.  Mom may or may not care for them at this point, but it's worth a try.

Come back if you need additional help.  You have a lot to learn if you're going to raise baby keets!

Chrys