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Re: deciding factor on clutch size?
Posted by Jeff on 10/17/05

On 10/16/05, jill wrote:
> does anyone know what the deciding factor is on how many
> eggs are laid in a clutch? thanks in advance, jill

Jill,

I'm not so sure there is a "deciding factor" of how many
eggs a budgie will lay in any given clutch.

However, and this is just based on my 2-year experience with
breeding budgies, I think one prominent factor would
be, "diet." First, the hen (i.e., female) needs plenty of
calcium in her diet, for as she lays eggs this depletes her
body of calcium. If that calcium is not replenished, then
she will not be able to produce eggs.

It is important, therefore, to be sure that you have a
cuttle bone in the cage, especially during breeding season,
but it is important to keep one in the cage at all times.
During breeding season, you will see the cuttlebone diminish
more rapidly than during the off season; this is because the
hen continually replenishes herself with calcium, through
the cuttlebone.

As the eggs begin to hatch, and I've experienced this with
my budgies, the hen will sometimes actually eat the egg
shells after her chick has hatched. She is simply
replenishing herself with calcium, in addition to helping
with the hatching process.

Generally, however, budgies lay anywhere between 4-7 eggs
per clutch. My smallest clutch was 4, and my largest clutch
was 9, which is a VERY large clutch for a budgie. However,
only 7 of the 9 hatched. Not sure why the 3 didn't hatch. I
suppose there could be various reasons for this.

I hope this helps you....

Posts on this thread, including this one

• deciding factor on clutch size?, 10/16/05, by jill.
• Re: deciding factor on clutch size?, 10/17/05, by Jeff.
• Re: deciding factor on clutch size?, 10/17/05, by jill.