Why do Budgies Break Their Eggs ( Find Out!)

Last Updated on February 4, 2023 by Ali Shahid

why do budgies break their eggs

It is common for budgie owners to worry about their birds destroying their eggs. Their situation becomes worse when their budgies start eating their eggs. At this point, they often wonder why budgies break their eggs.

We will discuss all the reasons why budgies break their eggs in this article, as well as how to prevent them from doing so in the future.

Why do Budgies eat Their Eggs?

To meet their nutritional needs, budgies break and eat each other’s eggs in the wild. This way, budgies develop the habit of eating other birds’ eggs. Budgies in cages, however, don’t have the privilege of flying to other birds’ nests. This leaves them with no choice but to eat their eggs. As a result, they eat their eggs to stay alive.

9 Reasons Why Budgies Throw or Break their Eggs

1. Inexperience

Birds with little experience are most likely to break their eggs. In most cases, first-time couples are unaware of how eggs work. In the end, the eggs are broken, and there is nothing you can do about it. A lack of experience may not matter when the babies are delivered.

2. Rottenness

When budgies get rotten eggs, they are believed to throw them out. Three of my four budgie pairs have thrown their eggs out as usual. Rain and heat don’t damage the cage, so rottenness won’t always be an issue.

A closer inspection revealed several problems, such as untrained birds and a poorly constructed cage including a breeding box that was too close to the ground, making it impossible to save eggs in the event of an emergency.

3. Calcium Deficiency

A lack of minerals may cause Budgies to destroy their clutches. Calcium is a mineral that birds need in their diet, as noted by Cornell University Veterinary Medicine. You can expect your budgie to break its eggs if it doesn’t get enough calcium.

If budgies don’t have a balanced diet, they will get ill and hatch deformed eggs. A budgie understands that to survive it has to remain healthy and produce better eggs in the future.

4. Anger

When the budgie parrot becomes angry or frustrated, it often throws its eggs or babies. The pair may end up getting angry and breaking their eggs if other budgies keep disturbing their breeding box.  

5. Human Exposure

The budgies might break their eggs or throw their babies out if they are placed in a cage that has constant human interaction. Those who live in crowded, congested households do not feel calm and happy.

Having access to humans or other pets might make them less likely to breed well. Giving budgie parrots privacy to mate and hang out is one of the best ways to breed them.

6. Nesting Problems

A budgie’s nest is very important in terms of where it lays its eggs. To avoid predation, budgies prefer building deep nests that are large.

The domesticated budgie cannot create its nest cavities, so it depends on the supply provided by its owners, so it may not be willing to use a nesting box or material.

7. Lack of Food

Due to a lack of food in their cages, female budgies may destroy their eggs. Budgie mothers need to know that their chicks will be well fed once they hatch, as well as their mate.

8. Egg Diseases

An experienced budgie can tell the difference between a healthy egg and one that has been negatively affected by the disease. Budgies learn to identify diseased eggs over a lifetime of breeding. When budgies are experienced, they don’t mix diseased eggs with healthy ones.

9. New Nesting Season

If a budgie wants to restart a new laying cycle, it may destroy its eggs before they hatch. Disease, infertility, or unbalanced incubation may cause some eggs to develop less than others.

The budgie will start a new laying cycle after hatching the eggs in random order. In this way, the budgie doesn’t have to take on both tasks at once. If he did, he’d surely fail at both.

How To Prevent Budgies from Breaking Their Eggs

There are various ways to safeguard budgies’ eggs:

  • Secure Environment

Assure that the parents are secure to prevent damage to their eggs from stress or fear. You should also provide your parrots with covered nesting boxes to minimize disturbances. Nests should be ten inches long and four feet wide.

  • Incubate The Eggs

Artificial incubation can prevent your budgie’s eggs from being eaten, destroyed, infected with parasites, or crushed. A controlled environment can be maintained for eggs by incubating them.

Any nutritional issues your budgie may suffer from or any stress it may be experiencing will not be solved by the solution. Soft-shelled eggs may still occur as a result. Incubation with soft-shelled eggs does not produce healthy hatchlings.

Hence, your budgies need a healthy diet and a safe environment in which to live.

  • Fake Eggs

If a comfortable environment is provided, an artificial egg can reduce boredom-related egg damage. To prevent this from happening, purchase or craft fake eggs. Budgies sometimes crush their eggs for entertainment purposes.

  • Calcium-Rich Foods

A calcium-rich diet will prevent budgies from seeing their eggs as food, especially during the breeding season. They will also lay healthier and stronger eggs with it.

Bacteria and fungi can’t survive in thicker and more resilient shells. Your birds will be less likely to kill the eggs due to disease if you do this.

  • Separate

You can separate the breeding pair if you are having space problems. Consequently, they are less likely to compete for food and feel less threatened.

  • Privacy

Ensure the nesting box is well hidden and that the breeding cage is located in a secluded part of your home. Too much light, sound, or activity should not be exposed to it. Moreover, you should avoid letting children, strangers, or predatory pets enter the cage.

Author

  • Ali Shahid

    Ali Shahid is a veterinarian by profession and an animal lover. He loves to give expert opinions about different animals. He has worked in top organization of birds like Bigbird Feed and Poultry Research institute. He loves birds, especially parrots and has great experience in different parrot farms.

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