AboutLeah Expertise I can answer questions relating to feeding, setting up cages, behavior, sexing, and many other subjects. I don't have much experience with breeding, but I can try to help.
Experience I've raised budgies for over ten years, and have hand raised several of them.
Expert: Leah Date: 7/16/2008 Subject: Questions about breeding.
Question Today when my female came out of her nest box she stretched and I noticed a bare area around her lower stomach near her vent. Is this for incubating eggs? Also can I mark her egg to see if she eats it or lays another egg, for ex with a crayon or pencil? Finally, is it normal for parakeets to continue to mate even after the female starts laying eggs?
Answer I wouldn't mark the eggs. I don't see any reason to, considering they all generally hatch at the same time, so it doesn't matter if she has more, you won't be able to tell them apart at first anyway. Also, they lay an egg every other day normally, so it should be pretty obvious if she's eaten one. Plus, the eggs are pretty delicate, so its best not to handle them unless you have to.
The plucked feathers generally aren't for incubation. More commonly, they will actually eat them for nutrition. A female will even sometimes pluck her babies to eat their feathers. Try giving them things like cuttlebones, hardboiled eggs (in small pieces, with the shell too), or fruits and veggies (small pieces at room temperature), such as apples and carrots are favorites.
Plucking can also be a sign of stress or boredom. She'll probably grow out of the behavior once breeding time is over.
It is perfectly normal for them to continue to mate. Once she has a few eggs, she'll stop in favor of taking care of her eggs.
