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!
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!
