Got DNA now have Questions......

Angela19

New member
Aug 9, 2011
57
0
New York
Parrots
Alexandrine "Mango"
Hey Everyone,

So, I got my Alexandrines DNA results today and my 8 month old baby is a girl. My question which may or not be dumb and Im asking because I dont know. Is with having a female bird what is the deal with egg laying and egg binding and all that. Is there anything I need to do or not do for her. I realize this sounds silly but if you don't know something you ask right...LOL. Just wanna make sure I do whats best for her.
 

Abbiebaby

New member
Sep 5, 2011
20
0
TX
Parrots
Cluck - Timneh African Grey.

Just Deceased - Abbie - Green Cheek Conure
I heard that female birds require more calcium and that it is important to talk to a Vet about the behavioral issues that arise when a bird lays eggs so that the caretaker can handle them properly. If the Vet performed the test, I would give them a follow-up call. If not, I use www.Justanswer.com for any questions I need help with. They are kind of pricey, but I've found their advice to be invaluable and the experts to be very knowledgable and supportive.
 

brighteyes

New member
Aug 24, 2011
160
Media
5
1
on a farm in south vic Austrailia...
Parrots
The very proud owner of a new baby sun conour !
Hi ,
My daughter has keeped hen cockatiels most of her life as she is not into breeding
birds , yes she feeds lots of veg, fruit, pellets, seed , more often too much food as she throws a lot out after a few houres if the birds don,t eat it , NOW the big point she makes when l baby sit it keep the fresh silver beet, broccoli, & cuttlebone ,up to them Funny during breeding season they clean up heaps of cuttlebone , lucky we find heaps along the beach were we live ! As for the eggs we just remove them as they come remember they are NOT fertile !
 
OP
Angela19

Angela19

New member
Aug 9, 2011
57
0
New York
Parrots
Alexandrine "Mango"
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #4
I know Alexandrines breed once a year, so am I to expect eggs around that time? Or do they or will they just randomly lay eggs.?
 
OP
Angela19

Angela19

New member
Aug 9, 2011
57
0
New York
Parrots
Alexandrine "Mango"
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #5
Ohh, and is there an age they would start this, my Mango is 8 months..?
 

Riio

New member
Apr 19, 2011
318
0
San Diego California
Parrots
'Rio'~RIP baby girl 'Sunshine'~Yellow Side Green Cheek Conure
Angela19, I dont have any help for you, but I couldnt help but giggle a little because I just found out the other day that my lil guy, is indeed a girl! And....I asked the same exact question!! LOL (I dont think anyone really answered that question for me, but it was mixed in with some other stuff so it might have been missed!) Good Luck! :D
 

Pedro

New member
Dec 15, 2010
1,583
3
Australia
Parrots
2 Budgies, 3 Cockatiels, 6 GCC'S, 2 Crimson Bellie Conures, 9 Sun Conures, 2 Major Mitchells, 12 Eclectus parrots of various ages, 2 BF Amazons, 2 Hahn's Macaw's, 1 Red Tail Black Too
Hey Everyone,

So, I got my Alexandrines DNA results today and my 8 month old baby is a girl. My question which may or not be dumb and Im asking because I dont know. Is with having a female bird what is the deal with egg laying and egg binding and all that. Is there anything I need to do or not do for her. I realize this sounds silly but if you don't know something you ask right...LOL. Just wanna make sure I do whats best for her.

Hi Angela, congrats, a little girl.:)

You won't have to worry to much until she is 3 years old. Only then will she need extra calcium, she will know herself. They usually lay 4 eggs & will start sitting after the 2nd or 3rd egg is laid. It is important to let her sit on the eggs for the 24 days & then turf them. She may or may not lay a second clutch. If you keep throwing eggs as they are laid she may keep replacing them. All that said she may never lay an egg either, you will have to deal with that when & if the times comes.

The thing is Angela is to feed her a well balanced diet & keep her healthy, you shouldn't have a worry with egg binding.
 
Sep 4, 2011
29
0
Australia
Parrots
Scarlet Chested
Ring Necked
Green Cheeked Conures
Bourke
Princess
Egg binding is the inability of a hen to pass a developed or partially developed egg - usually kills the hen. It is believe it is to do with a lack of calcium in the diet.
I think this killed one of my quails which woul work with the calcium theory as they don't have access to calcium of my other birds.

She should only lay eggs in her season and if she has some where to lay them. The Alexandrine Parrots season starts in August in Australia which is the last month of winter here.
 

Pedro

New member
Dec 15, 2010
1,583
3
Australia
Parrots
2 Budgies, 3 Cockatiels, 6 GCC'S, 2 Crimson Bellie Conures, 9 Sun Conures, 2 Major Mitchells, 12 Eclectus parrots of various ages, 2 BF Amazons, 2 Hahn's Macaw's, 1 Red Tail Black Too
I have my second clutch of Alex babies I am hand rearing & they are just over 3 weeks old.

The causes of egg binding includes obesity, a diet deficient in calcium, chilling, lack of exercise & infection of the oviduct.

Cockatiels are more prone to this problem as owners of single female birds throw eggs as they are laid causing the hen to keep replacing eggs& this will deplete her reserves of calcium & energy, it is best to let the hen sit on her clutch for the required incubation time & then turf the eggs.
 
OP
Angela19

Angela19

New member
Aug 9, 2011
57
0
New York
Parrots
Alexandrine "Mango"
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #10
Thanks everyone for the info. Mango gets a diet of mainly Mazuri pellets and fresh fruits & veggies, she also get a little of quality seed mix as a small snack while on her playstand. She also have a calcium block in her cage. I would love to get her a friend as I think ( I may be wrong ) she would enjoy the companionship. I am a stay at home Mom of 3 and Mango is out of her cage about 10hrs a day with me. However, I dont think I will be home for the next 30+ yrs at some point I will have to go back to work. Which is why I would want a friend for her. I would love to get another Alex which with all my searching have found very few breeders near me. The other problem is I would love to have a Male and Female but then theres the babies. I wouldn't mind them having babies at all if if wasnt harmful to them in any way, but my issue with that would be finding GOOD homes for them. Dont know what to do...Is she happy, would she like a friend, is she better off without a friend UGH!!!!!!!!
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top