Parakeet eggs-NEW updates: 5-20-09!

[77horses]

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That's what I suspect it is.

All the birds are on a diet with a variety of seeds and 2 tablespoons of egg supplement(with real egg and extra vitamins). Water is provided. Yes, I know we should add more fruits and veggies.

You see, I'm at mom's house for 2 weeks. My dad is busy and doesn't really spend time with the birds; he just checks on them, makes sure they have food and water, etc. He doesn't spend time to cook up some of our chicken eggs, grade some apples and carrots, cook rice, give them whole wheat bread, etc. each and every day, and then take it all out when it spoils. I would do that, but I'm not there except for on weekends, when I give them some extra stuff, candle the eggs, etc.

I just wish I could incubate those eggs and hatch them on my own. but school is in the way, and I would need A LOT of info before attempting to handfeed baby parakeets every 2-4 hours a day(and sometimes at night). I would need to buy a syringe, special feeding formula, a new little cage for them, plus I would need to fix the incubator, which I was originally going to use for chicken eggs, but then we decided to let the hens go broody and hatch their own eggs, etc... and right now we're having temp. issues with it and everything.

So as much as I would like to, I couldn't just take the eggs and bring them home with me. I was really close to trying it, though.

So maybe this summer, when school vacation is here, I can spend more time taking care of their diet and making sureit's more healthy than it is right now.

 

[adrian]

It sounds like you are a very knowledgeable owner.

My lovebirds get a pretty convenient to feed "birdie bread" that I make. It has ground flax seed, whole wheat flour, oatmeal, walnuts and almonds, apples and carrots in it. They adore it. I just throw it together and cook for 15 minutes or so.

If they continue to have problems hatching the babies, it is likely not how they are incubating them, but their diet. So if you wanted to take them into your incubator, you might have no more success than they do. Our local pet store is always throwing away budgie eggs, some of them which are set on by the mother for some time before being thrown out. I've intercepted them a few times and brought the eggs home, but the majority don't hatch. Those that do either die in the first day, for absolutely no reason, or gain weight slowly despite a high-protein, high-quality formula and consistent feeding regimen. One baby I had developed severe liver problems and eventually died.

It is advisable to not attempt to hatch babies where vitamin deficiencies are suspected. It seems to only bring about more problems.


Good luck!

 

[crazychicken]

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Those at the pet store might be too young for breeding in the first place that might be a reason.

 

[adrian]

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Those at the pet store might be too young for breeding in the first place that might be a reason.

While that was indeed true of some of them, some had been surrendered to the pet store at 2 years + of age. So, not always is it age, but then again, not only is it nutritional problems. It's quite a delicate matter.

 

[crazychicken]

Quote:
Those at the pet store might be too young for breeding in the first place that might be a reason.

While that was indeed true of some of them, some had been surrendered to the pet store at 2 years + of age. So, not always is it age, but then again, not only is it nutritional problems. It's quite a delicate matter.

good point I am saving up and reading up on parakeets I have become really good at breeding chickens, and I did hatch some finches for a friend. I hope to get a male and female when we move. since we have just started to buy the land this is good pacing of myself. If I save up and watch craigslist for good buys and watch for the pet store sales. I plan on getting a nice big cage, and hopefully a male and female. I know about the blue/purple crele (not sure on spelling) = Boy and tan/white = female So Right now I am learning and saving money from chicks that I hatch.

I hope I am going about this the right way. I usually tend to be a well researched owner. I am always improving the diet of all the animals making sure they are getting the best food and treats possible.

I would love a ring neck pair , but I will settle for the ones at the pet store since I probably wont be able to find ring necks any where local.

 

[adrian]

You mean a ringneck parakeet? Parrots are awfully expensive to buy, own, and breed, so the first thing to do before starting is to ask yourself what you are hoping to attain from breeding parrots. If you are looking for money (and from what you've said, I don't think so), parrots really won't make you much of a profit, if any at all. Lovebird babies, hand-fed and weaned, sell for about $50 - $100 each. If you go above $100, most people won't buy them. I spent at least $80 on hand-feeding formula – I had to have a certain brand shipped to me because I am picky – not to mention $10 on good quality syringes, $20+ on bedding for the brooder, $20 for the brooder container, $30 for a decent heating pad. And I had to hatch one of the babies, feed another one from 2 days old, and the rest I pulled at 2 weeks of age. The newborns were fed every 2 hours around the clock, the 2 week-olds were about every 3-4 hours, morning to night. This takes a lot of work.

That's not including what it costs to cage, feed, and care for the parent birds. And the initial price of buying them ($300 for my birds – the female died of a heart attack during a thunderstorm when her babies were a day from being 2 weeks old).

Birds are delicate. Birds take a lot of work. Parrots are especially difficult to raise and care for. Budgies are a good place to start, but if there is a problem and you land yourself with a hungry newborn to feed, you're going to need a lot of knowledge and patience, and the proper equipment. It's easy to kill tiny babies.

That said, it's extremely rewarding.
I trust you will do your research and raise not only the babies, but the parents, with love and attention.

 

[crazychicken]

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Yes I love the look of the ringneck parakeet and yes that is what I was talking about. I really am not in it for the money, I love birds and want to go to college and study Biology and specialize in birds. It all started with the chickens, I wanted a pet birds and to hatch eggs, well my chickens are not so the rooster is a big mean one, all the hens are skittish and you have to have a net to catch one. but that is ok I still take care of them and we get eggs and chicks. so I was thinking of parakeets, I would most likely start with budgies from the pet store. I really want a bird I can play with and take care of with out having to have a stick to protect myself, or a net to catch it, I realize it will be hard work and time consuming but I am ok with that, I realize that it takes lots of money, but it will be months or even maybe a year before we move and get settled in, so that gives me time to save up money from baby chicks that I like to hatch anyway, I will always read a lot and learn from any source possible. I know it takes a lot of work and time to care for, but I am willing to give it. I want to be a good owner but I also want to have fun getting there. the Way I see it the more love and time I spend with the birds and with school work the less time I have to do something that may get me in trouble.