Eclectus eggs won't hatch

Wmac

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Jan 3, 2011
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Hi-I'll try to make this as brief as possible... I got my eclectus pair about 15 mos ago. I was told that they were 5 and that she had laid clutches of a single egg before and that they never hatched but developed fully. They were in a clean cage on a sun porch but the house itself was very smoky! The owner was older and obviously afraid of them and said she was giving them up because her husband had a stroke ( basically i view them as a pricey rescue)!
I brought them home where they live amongst my family and other pets, someone is almost always home, and we rarely lock their cage. Okay-they are spoiled and my human children swear I like the bird children better. They have a full size tree with toys etc., they are chatty and social although they will bite occasionally and don't appreciate a hand reaching for them, I found that he prefers a treat of nuts, bread, carrots, while she loves berries, and they both like eggs and apples.

After about 3mos. Maude laid an egg, seemed to be a good sitter, but the egg never hatched and I opened it and it was dead and fully developed. I researched food, environment, etc., switched them to harrisons-took them to a certified avian veterinarian and they checked out well although Maude had a very high white count (I read dis late can be due to infection) however, I took her back and they retested and it was normal so the vet thought it was a bad blood draw or error. I did find out Maude is 18 & Harold is 13 ( still banded). She began laying clutches of 2eggs about 6 mos later, which I attribute to the improvement in nutrition, but every clutch ends the same way. I have a metal l-shaped nest box attached to the cage for it's' ability to be cleaned thoroughly between clutches. I am planning on taking the next clutch to the state vet for a necrotopsy if the same thing happens, but I am asking if anyone has any ideas! I really would love to raise a baby without all the baggage Harold & Maude have, to enjoy all that I know these fabulous animals are capable of, and mom & dad are so upset when the eggs are taken away that I really feel for them.
The last clutch was opened after a 35 day incubation. I could still see them moving up until about 32 days and then stopped checking as to not upset Maude any further. When we open them they are perfect, but dead and haven't absorbed the yoke, which has begun to turn green. I thought perhaps a humidity issue which hindered their hatch, but without absorbing the yoke, I don't think it's that. She does fully bathe in her water bowl about every other day. I did notice that although she seemed to be sitting on them-they weren't very warm from about day 27 on. Could it be that she just doesn't incubate well the last week? Should I incubate them week 3 on? Any suggestions? And if artificial incubation is the answer-incubator recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks for any help-it's so sad I can't stand it anymore!
I have bird wise friends that hatch chickens, quail, ducks, etc. But they are stumped too! Any thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated!
 

Spiritbird

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We do have a few members who breed but not many. Most of us are into the resuce of the many homless birds. Sorry I cannot help you but hopefully someone will.
 

Pedro

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Dec 15, 2010
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Any factor that reduces the viability of the embryo will reduce it's chances of hatching. Therefore this will include congenital defects, respiratory disease (mycoplamosis), and yoke sac infections. If the shell is to hard due to low humidity and/or to thick. the embryo may not be able to pip.

Another problem could be nest design leading to dirty eggs by the adult birds contaminating eggs with fecal material then the chick is compromised to bacterial infections like E.-coli & Salmonella. You also mention the nest is made of metal Not sure where you live but that could be a problem regarding warmth & humidity. Also diet can play a major role with adult eclectus & successful hatch rate. Poor viability can be due to nutritional deficencies, such as riboflavin, biotin, pantothenic & folic acids; vit's B 12, D 3, & E; zinc & manganese.

All my eclectus have approx 80% fresh fruit & veggie, sprouted seeds, chilie peppers, pellets a small amout of seeds & a few almonds. I can't stop my birds from breeding unless i take the nest box away as soon as i take the chicks for hand-rearing.

The only suggestion i can make is to buy or get a loan of an incubator & incubate the eggs. If the eggs die at the same time. ( Eclectus eggs take 28 days to hatch ) It's highly probable that the parent stock is directly linked to the embryo deaths.

Hope this has helped a little.
 
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Wmac

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Thanks-I think I will try to incubate. I don't think it's the nest because it happened with a wooden box too, also it is very clean-she comes out to do her business on the floor at least twice twice a day, so the nest box is remarkably clean. I feed mostly pellets a mix of high potency and adult fine. I give them fresh fruit and vegetables, but they won't eat them like the pellets... The food is organic and my vet agrees with it. Thank you so much for your help! It's so sad to see them dead and like you said-they breed again right away-if I take the box she hunts through the house for another spot and gets aggressive so that's not an option! Th anks again!
 

Pedro

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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 also read where the chick is still moving at 32 days, with all other angles covered then you would have to look at how hard the shell is. In this case you would have to go in and assist the hatch at around 29 days especially if their has been internal pip & the chick has moved up into the air cell but can't get any further.

All my eclectus hatch at exactly 28 days after the first egg is laid the second egg always hatches a few days later.

Good luck
 
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Wmac

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Thank you Pedro! I pulled my eclectus egg at 10 days this time (she only laid 1, but also did that last January). I incubated it in a bransea incubator mini with humidity control. Thursday, February 17-voila-our chick hatched perfectly at 16 grams. It seems healthy and active. This mornings weight is 26 grams-so it is eating well and handling the formula recipe ( I copied the recipe advice of an eclectus breeder in Australia from a book). I plan to switch to harrisons hand raising formula at 1-2 weeks as per the company's recommendation, but welcome any hand feeding advice or recipes that you or anyone else may have. Mother was given 2 fertile fancy show chicken eggs to sit on until 28 days, and they were also DIS, I believe she may not sit well the last week. I'm sorry for the parents, that they don't get to raise thire chick. Dad has visited and whistles and makes kissing sounds to the chick which shows some bonding... Anyway thank you for your advice-it was apparently the right answer! I welcome any more knowledge you feel is necessary for me to know.
 
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Wmac

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Thank you! I feel like rescuing mom and dad gave me the best of both worlds! I have gotten very far with them and they have become mostly tame again! I am able to pet and hold Harold now which I could never do before. We enjoy both of them so much! Now I have a baggage free baby to raise too! This is my baby today, at 36 grams.

IMG_4018.jpeg
 

MikeyTN

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awww...it's cute!!!! Only a proud parent understands how cute they are when they're babies.... I miss raising birds sometimes....
 

Pedro

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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
WOW that is such good news. Wmac i often think about you & your birds. As far as baby is going just following the instructions in the book. Don't change anything at this point.

I also feel that the metal nestbox maybe causing the problem of the eggs not hatching. Try a wooden nest box with wood shavings for the nesting material. The metal could cause to cold/to hot at the time of hatch because the chicks die at that time. Just a thought.
 
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AlgaeCherry

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Jan 12, 2013
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Eclectus pair
I was wondering how often the eggs required turning? - I have had the same problem with my pair and am looking into getting an incubator :red::green2:
 

labell

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Feb 17, 2014
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My female lays eggs but the pair don't mate what is going on help


I asked a bunch a questions about this pair in the other post you made about the same issue if you can answer those questions I hope that we can help you with your questions. Please refer back to the post you started, this post is very old!
 

MikeyTN

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Feb 1, 2011
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Antioch, TN
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"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
My female lays eggs but the pair don't mate what is going on help


I asked a bunch a questions about this pair in the other post you made about the same issue if you can answer those questions I hope that we can help you with your questions. Please refer back to the post you started, this post is very old!

Your replying to a post that's over a year old and this member have not been back in a long time.
 

labell

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Feb 17, 2014
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My female lays eggs but the pair don't mate what is going on help


I asked a bunch a questions about this pair in the other post you made about the same issue if you can answer those questions I hope that we can help you with your questions. Please refer back to the post you started, this post is very old!

Your replying to a post that's over a year old and this member have not been back in a long time.
Sorry Mike I know this post is old but a new member "Olivercherry" brought it up asking a question that they had asked in their own post as well today on a pair of ekkies that won't breed but is laying eggs. Olivercherry has since deleted the post on this thread but you can see I quoted them in my post.:confused: I am confused now too.:confused:
 

MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
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Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
Interesting that it didn't pop up for us to see....Must of been deleted right away.....Oh well.... :)
 

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