Azura got a big fright and hasn’t been on her eggs during the night or this morning..

reeb

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+ an aviary of 16 other budgies! all hatched 2014-2017
Hi everyone,

My show budgie pair, Azura and Malachite, have produced 7 eggs over the past few weeks. Yesterday something spooked Azura, I’m not quite sure what. It was a loud bang from somewhere on my street. I heard a lot of squawking and flapping. When I checked on her she defended her eggs vehemently, but then when I came back later in the evening she was out of her box. I don’t know if she sat on her eggs at all last night, but I somehow doubt it because she has been in there constantly over the past couple weeks hardly coming out. She was sitting outside of the box this morning.

Malachite is still feeding her and they still seem to be showing breeding behaviours, but I am now so anxious that she has abandoned her eggs due to the fright.

Does anyone have any insight or advice?
 
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itzjbean

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It is quite possible they've forgotten the eggs after the spook and may not sit on them anymore. As a breeder you have to always be prepared for this, as it does happen, and now if the birds are indeed not sitting anymore you can't force them to do it.

You will have to take on incubating the eggs until hatching in an incubator, and then once eggs hatch move them to a brooder to begin handfeeding. As a breeder you always have to be prepared for things like this. HOWEVER, if you have no incubator/brooder/experience doing so, I'm afraid the chicks will likely die without being incubated properly.
 
OP
reeb

reeb

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Berry (♀ Cockatiel) hatched June 2017
Opal (♂ Budgie) hatched 13 August 2017
Pearl (♀ Budgie) hatched 15 August 2017
+ an aviary of 16 other budgies! all hatched 2014-2017
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Yes it’s definitely a risk one has to take. I wasn’t with them much today as I was out, but the behaviour I did see was chirpy and very flirty and active (not sure if she was in the box, haven’t had much time to check) - at this point I’m just glad that the pair are okay. I’m not sure what happened, I was just so worried about their well-being. Just super paranoid! Hoping for the best. I’ll keep an eye on them for the next few days and see what happens.


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itzjbean

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Yes it’s definitely a risk one has to take. I wasn’t with them much today as I was out, but the behaviour I did see was chirpy and very flirty and active (not sure if she was in the box, haven’t had much time to check) - at this point I’m just glad that the pair are okay. I’m not sure what happened, I was just so worried about their well-being. Just super paranoid! Hoping for the best. I’ll keep an eye on them for the next few days and see what happens.


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Aren't you worried about the chicks? The eggs need incubating NOW if they are going to be viable, won't be able to be without heat for much over an hour or they start to chill and will die.

Please don't allow your bids to lay eggs and breed if you have no intention on stepping in to save chicks when they need it!!
 
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reeb

reeb

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Berry (♀ Cockatiel) hatched June 2017
Opal (♂ Budgie) hatched 13 August 2017
Pearl (♀ Budgie) hatched 15 August 2017
+ an aviary of 16 other budgies! all hatched 2014-2017
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Of course I have thought of the chicks. I am aware of the implications. Luckily Azura is back on her eggs as of this evening. I had an incubator arriving tomorrow anyway.

EDIT: this was also a very bad timing situation for me. I had an unexpected emergency to attend to today, preventing me from spending all day at home. I ordered an incubator for next day delivery for tomorrow, and more than that I was unable to do. Yes, maybe I should have had an incubator already, but I have bred without complications before and I am still learning and am actually very passionate about this. Please don’t be so quick to pass judgement. I love my birds, and their unborn chicks. I want the best for them. [emoji20] I appreciate your help
 
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Anansi

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I'm hoping that the budgie chicks wind up okay after all, in which case this scare will have been the impetus for your learning something new about what to have on hand when breeding. It's also a good sign when someone is not only receptive to critique, but also quick to act on given advice (as you were in ordering the incubator after reading itzjbean's suggestion). I don't doubt that you do want what's best for your birds and their unborn chicks.

Please keep us updated on how everything turns out. We're rooting for them!
 

Scott

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Of course I have thought of the chicks. I am aware of the implications. Luckily Azura is back on her eggs as of this evening. I had an incubator arriving tomorrow anyway.

EDIT: this was also a very bad timing situation for me. I had an unexpected emergency to attend to today, preventing me from spending all day at home. I ordered an incubator for next day delivery for tomorrow, and more than that I was unable to do. Yes, maybe I should have had an incubator already, but I have bred without complications before and I am still learning and am actually very passionate about this. Please don’t be so quick to pass judgement. I love my birds, and their unborn chicks. I want the best for them. [emoji20] I appreciate your help

Many thanks for your concern and order of an incubator to help prevent future issues. Very few of us are expert breeders, and your willingness to learn from experience is commendable!

Hope to hear great news of successful hatchings!
 

GaleriaGila

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reeb, you're brave and open-minded and intelligent. Having never bred birds, I'm interested in following your situation. Hey, one of these days, YOU'LL be helping teach people about breeding.
The only thing I'm critical of is that I need to see more pictures of your show pair! And if we don't get pictures of the babies, I will send the Rickeybird to spend a little time with you! :D
If you ever get time, I'd love a thread telling how you prepare, travel, and display them, and what a show is like.
 

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