Should I Take the Other Parakeet Out When One Lays an Egg?

Breeding parakeets requires patience and a breeding box to offer privacy for the birds. Parakeets can lay eggs even if the female has not been fertilized. You do not have to remove the other bird when a parakeet lays an egg and usually should not unless a problem arises. Parakeets lay eggs in a "clutch" or grouping, not usually just one egg.

  1. Laying Eggs

    • Typically a female parakeet or "hen" lays an egg every other day. She continues to lay until the "clutch" is complete, typically four to six eggs. You do need to remove the male bird if the hen does not stop laying eggs. Occasionally a bird continues to lay eggs past the fertilized ones, and as creating eggs drains the body of important nutrients, it can actually endanger the bird. You can verify the eggs have been fertilized by shining a flashlight on the egg and looking at the inside through the shell. The light allows you to see the embryo inside the shell.

    Grouping

    • In order to encourage breeding, including two or three pairs of birds helps to stimulate the parakeets into breeding mode. By adding this level of competition, you tend to get multiple pairs breeding at the same time. Be sure to check the nesting box daily, typically when the mother is absent from the box. The birds are free to move in and out of the box at will, but it is less disruptive if you check it when the mom is in the main cage.

    Taking Care of Eggs

    • The hen begins to "brood" or warm the eggs once two or three eggs have been laid. The baby birds will hatch between 17 and 20 days after being laid. This means the birds should arrive every other day in the same order the eggs were laid. If for some reason the mother attacks the eggs or does not brood the eggs, remove the eggs from the cage and keep the eggs warm until the birds hatch.

    After the Birth

    • The male should be reintroduced if you removed him during the egg-laying process, as he aids in feeding the babies. The mother parakeet will stay with the young birds while the male feeds her and she in turn feeds the babies. This ensures the chicks' safety and keeps the birds warm and growing. The duo likes to continue to produce clutches after the first group hatches. You should separate the birds after the second clutch has been cared for in order to keep the parakeets in good health. Remove the mother from the other birds when the youngest chick is approximately 10 days old. The father cares for the babies, though it might take up to 48 hours for him to fill the role.