Why Is My Budgie Not Sitting On Her Eggs? (All You Need To Know)

One of the most exciting parts of breeding budgies is watching them lay and incubate their eggs. However, it can be concerning when a budgie refuses to sit on her eggs. So, let’s learn more about it.

Budgies may not sit on their eggs if they don’t feel safe or comfortable in their environment, if they are not yet ready to incubate the eggs, if the eggs are not viable, or if they are stressed or ill. It’s important to address any underlying issues and create a comfortable and safe environment to encourage incubation.

If you’re a budgie breeder and your budgie is not sitting on her eggs, it’s important to understand the potential reasons for this behavior and how you can address the issue.

In this article, we will explore some of the common reasons why budgies may abandon their eggs and what steps you can take to encourage your budgie to sit on her eggs and successfully hatch a healthy brood of chicks.

Do Budgies Sit On Their Eggs All The Time?

Yes, budgies (also known as parakeets) typically sit on their eggs almost constantly once they start laying eggs.

This is because the eggs need to be kept at a constant temperature of around 100°F (37.8°C) in order to develop properly.

The female budgie is responsible for incubating the eggs, but the male budgie may also take turns sitting on the eggs while the female takes a break to eat or drink water.

During incubation, the budgies will rotate the eggs every few hours to ensure that the developing embryo is evenly exposed to heat.

This is important because if one side of the egg gets too hot or too cold, the embryo may not develop properly or may even die.

Once the eggs hatch, the parents will continue to care for the chicks by keeping them warm, feeding them regurgitated food, and protecting them from harm.

It’s important not to disturb the birds during this time, as any disruption could cause them to abandon the nest or harm the chicks.

How Long Can A Budgie Leave Her Eggs?

Budgies typically do not leave their eggs for extended periods of time, as the eggs need to be kept at a constant temperature in order to develop properly.

However, the female budgie may leave the eggs briefly to eat, drink water, or relieve herself.

Generally, the female budgie will leave the nest for no longer than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.

During this time, the male budgie may take over the responsibility of incubating the eggs until the female returns.

It’s important to note that if the eggs are left unattended for too long, they may become too cold or too hot and may not develop properly.

This can result in a low hatching rate or even death of the developing embryo.

Therefore, it’s important to provide the budgies with a quiet and undisturbed environment during the incubation period to ensure the best chance of successful hatching.

Why Is My Budgie Not Sitting On Her Eggs?

There could be several reasons why a budgie is not sitting on her eggs. Here are some possible explanations:

  • The eggs are not fertile: If the budgie laid eggs but did not mate with a male budgie, the eggs will not be fertile and there will be no developing embryos inside. In this case, the female budgie may not have an instinctual drive to incubate the eggs and may abandon them.
  • Inexperienced or young budgie: Sometimes, young or inexperienced budgies may not have developed the necessary skills to care for their eggs properly. This can result in the budgie not sitting on her eggs, leaving them unattended, or not rotating them properly.
  • Health issues: Budgies that are sick or have health issues may not be able to incubate their eggs properly. Health issues can also cause the budgie to abandon her eggs altogether.
  • Environmental factors: The budgie may not feel comfortable or safe in her environment, or the temperature and humidity levels may not be suitable for incubation. This can cause the budgie to avoid sitting on her eggs.
  • Stressful or disturbing environment: Loud noises, excessive handling or disruptions, and other stressful factors can cause the budgie to abandon her eggs.

If your budgie is not sitting on her eggs, it’s important to assess the situation and determine the cause.

If the eggs are not fertile or the budgie is too young or inexperienced, it may be best to remove the eggs and wait until the budgie is older and more experienced to try again.

If there are health issues, it’s important to seek veterinary care for the budgie. Ensure that the budgie’s environment is comfortable and conducive to incubation, and minimize disturbances to reduce stress.

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Do Budgies Sit On Eggs At Night?

Yes, budgies will usually sit on their eggs at night. Incubating the eggs is an important part of the breeding process, and it requires the eggs to be kept at a constant temperature of around 100°F (37.8°C) in order to develop properly.

This means that the budgies need to keep the eggs warm throughout the day and night.

During the incubation period, the budgies will rotate the eggs every few hours to ensure that the developing embryos are evenly exposed to heat.

They will also sit on the eggs to provide warmth and protect them from any potential threats.

While it’s possible for budgies to take short breaks from incubating their eggs to eat or drink water, they typically spend most of their time on the nest, including at night.

It’s important to provide the budgies with a quiet and undisturbed environment during the incubation period to ensure the best chance of successful hatching.

How Do I Know If My Budgie Eggs Are Fertile?

There are several signs that can indicate whether or not a budgie’s eggs are fertile:

  • Breeding behavior: If the budgies have been engaging in mating behavior, such as regurgitating food for each other, feeding each other, and staying close to each other, there is a good chance that the eggs are fertile.
  • Appearance: Fertile budgie eggs usually have a white or off-white color and a slightly translucent appearance. Infertile eggs may be clear or opaque, or they may have a yellow or green tinge.
  • Incubation: After the budgie has laid the eggs, she will begin incubating them to keep them warm and facilitate development. If the eggs are fertile, the budgie will continue to incubate them consistently, and you may be able to see the embryos developing through the eggshell as the incubation period progresses.
  • Hatching: If the eggs are fertile, they will eventually hatch and produce healthy chicks. The time it takes for the eggs to hatch depends on several factors, including the temperature and humidity in the environment and the type of budgie. On average, it takes around 18 to 21 days for budgie eggs to hatch.

It’s important to note that not all eggs will be fertile, even if the budgies have been engaging in mating behavior.

In addition, there are several factors that can affect the fertility of budgie eggs, including genetics, age, and health.

If you’re unsure whether your budgie’s eggs are fertile, you can consult a veterinarian or a budgie breeding expert for guidance.

Do Budgies Abandon Their Eggs If You Touch Them?

It is possible for budgies to abandon their eggs if they are disturbed or handled too much, especially if they are not used to human interaction or if they are already stressed or frightened.

However, simply touching the eggs briefly is unlikely to cause the budgie to abandon the nest.

Budgies have a strong instinct to incubate their eggs and protect their young, so they will usually return to the nest and continue incubating the eggs after being briefly disturbed.

It’s important, however, to avoid excessive handling of the eggs and to be gentle when checking on them to minimize the risk of stress or injury to the budgies or the eggs.

It’s also important to note that if the budgies are already showing signs of stress or if they are not providing adequate care for their eggs, handling the eggs may exacerbate the problem.

In such cases, it’s important to address any underlying issues and ensure that the budgies are in a comfortable and safe environment before attempting to handle the eggs.

When To Remove Unhatched Budgie Eggs?

It’s generally recommended to leave unhatched budgie eggs in the nest for at least 10-14 days after the expected hatch date.

This is because the eggs may hatch later than expected, and removing them too early could prevent any late hatchers from having a chance to survive.

After the 10-14 day waiting period, if the eggs still haven’t hatched, you can remove them from the nest. It’s important to dispose of them carefully to prevent any potential disease transmission or pest attraction.

If you’re not sure whether an egg is viable or not, you can candle it using a flashlight or other bright light source.

Hold the egg up to the light and look for signs of life, such as veins or movement inside the egg. If the egg appears completely dark and there are no signs of development, it’s likely that the egg is not viable.

It’s important to note that there are several factors that can affect the hatching success of budgie eggs, including genetics, age, and environment.

Mohini

Hello, I am Mohini, the founder of this blog. I am a qualified Animal Nutrition. I am here to help everyone understand their pets better.

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