can I add sand to a nest after the eggs are there without causing the female to leave

1334 Views 15 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Kimberly_CA, Mar 16, 2009

Kimberly_CA

Discussion Starter · Mar 15, 2009

I have a single female trying to raise eggs (1 has a good chance of being fertile, 1 should not) after her mate escaped and has not come back. I read about adding sand under the egg because it holds heat longer while she leaves to poop and drink.....if I add it now, 1 day into sitting, might it cause her to freak out and abandon them?

Other than sand and a heat lamp aimed at the nest, is there anything else I can do, temperature wise?

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spirit wings

· #2 · Mar 15, 2009

Kimberly_CA said:
I have a single female trying to raise eggs (1 has a good chance of being fertile, 1 should not) after her mate escaped and has not come back. I read about adding sand under the egg because it holds heat longer while she leaves to poop and drink.....if I add it now, 1 day into sitting, might it cause her to freak out and abandon them?

Other than sand and a heat lamp aimed at the nest, is there anything else I can do, temperature wise?

she does not need a heat lamp, she may get too thirsty just sitting under it. you live in CA so, it is not really helping IMO. leave things as is. you can add stuff if they hatch on banding day, If you think they need a little "somethin" in the nest bowl. just think of all the feral that hatch out, they have no more than an overpass to nest in and on.....the less you do the better. just relax and send postive calm energy when your around her. thats it.

Kimberly_CA

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 15, 2009 (Edited)

Ok I will try to not be such a worry wort, if it's gonna happen it's up to her.

But about the heat lamp....it's about a foot and a half away, I made sure it was not really close. I'd like to leave it on at least for the stormy days like today and 2marro (rain and wind). It should be in the 70s soon but today is still in the 50s in the day and 30s-40s at night. I put the back of my hand under it for 5 minutes where she would be sitting and it just gives a really very slight amount of warmth, I was very cautious about not overheating her. Does this sound ok?

Before she even set foot in the nest she and the others liked to sleep next to it.....about a foot closer too....

spirit wings

· #4 · Mar 15, 2009 (Edited)

well it is not a necessity, pigeons sit and hatch in Canada with out any heat. my thought is it could be too much. I used heat lamps on baby chicks and it can get 90 degrees easy with a lamp a foot or so away. pigeons do enjoy heat, but she can't leave it if she wanted or she could because she does not want it any longer and you don't want that. I would just keep it natural. mine have no probs with hatching and there were some nights it got down to 18, with out a heat lamp. I would take it out.

John_D

· #5 · Mar 15, 2009

If you're thinking of the egg(s), a heat lamp isn't going to be much use, I'd say. The bird doesn't need it, as Spirit Wings says, and if it were too near the nest when she had to go eat I think there's a risk of the eggs getting too dry from the wrong kind of heat.

John

Kimberly_CA

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 15, 2009

Alright removed it

Another question I just got a better look at egg 2 (not fertile, mate went missing before time cutoff) when she stood up to wing slap me and it's a bit dented. I think because she didn't form it long enough in her body (2nd egg layed less than 24 hours after first). I wanted to leave it for a couple diff reasons but is there a danger of it breaking and causing problems because it is thin/dented? I still don't have a dummy egg to replace it with just yet. I might by tuesday though.

Kimberly_CA

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 15, 2009

Looked even closer, 2nd egg has "hole" in it, just the thin egg skin covering it or whatever it's called, I removed it and will not be bugging her anymore until I give her more food 2marro.

It would have broken by the end of the day and gotten the nest all nasty so I removed it, and as I did it broke in my hand so I think it was the best choice. She does not seem to notice it's gone, or at least she is not showing it.

Pegasus

· #8 · Mar 15, 2009

Three of my hens layed one egg today in their nestboxes so put 3 bowls with sand in it, then put the egg in each bowl...But if you will put the sand in the bowl while they are sitting on the egg/s, they might stand up and leave for a bit but eventually they'll be back and sit on them again...

To answer your 2nd Q, I think they will try to stay and sit on the egg even its dented, some peck the egg til it breaks...I'll wait for few days then candle the egg if its not fertile then you can throw it out...

Kimberly_CA

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 15, 2009

Sorry guys already removed it before you replied. It was thin and part of the shell was missing, just the egg skin was showing. I removed it calmly and quickly and it broke right after I picked it up so I think it was best. I really didn't want it to break in the nest as it would have and caused more problems....but thank you guys I do appreciate your replies. I did not see the hole the first time I asked....it was more than dented...

spirit wings

· #10 · Mar 15, 2009

Kimberly_CA said:
Sorry guys already removed it before you replied. It was thin and part of the shell was missing, just the egg skin was showing. I removed it calmly and quickly and it broke right after I picked it up so I think it was best. I really didn't want it to break in the nest as it would have and caused more problems....but thank you guys I do appreciate your replies. I did not see the hole the first time I asked....it was more than dented...

good call. you are using common sense there girl!.....now sit back and wait. you know Im really excited about your maybe hatching, I really hope it happens.

Kimberly_CA

Discussion Starter · #11 · Mar 15, 2009

Thank you guys all so much! And thanks spirit! I really do too. It would be a happy ending to a sad situation. She has not left the nest again and seems to know just what to do.

Oh and the reason I can see everything she is doing is because her cage/loft is backed up to my sliding glass door. The other three sides are blocked from the wind by blankets and a water proof tarp. But I can see everything she is doing all the time without her being bothered about it.........it's nice because I always know whats up without disturbing her but also it makes it really difficult to stop watching her and worrying every time she gets off the nest. I would love for this egg to hatch and if she sits on it it seems like there is a good chance it should as she and her mate were mating right up until he left 24 hours before egg number 1. But, if it doesn't it's not the end of the world, I don't wanna set myself up for serious dissapointment by hoping too hard. If it doesn't happen I already have a whole bunch of prospects for her new mate.

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spirit wings

· #12 · Mar 15, 2009

Kimberly_CA said:
Thank you guys all so much! And thanks spirit! I really do too. It would be a happy ending to a sad situation. She has not left the nest again and seems to know just what to do.

Oh and the reason I can see everything she is doing is because her cage/loft is backed up to my sliding glass door. The other three sides are blocked from the wind by blankets and a water proof tarp. But I can see everything she is doing all the time without her being bothered about it.........it's nice because I always know whats up without disturbing her but also it makes it really difficult to stop watching her and worrying every time she gets off the nest. I would love for this egg to hatch and if she sits on it it seems like there is a good chance it should as she and her mate were mating right up until he left 24 hours before egg number 1. But, if it doesn't it's not the end of the world, I don't wanna set myself up for serious dissapointment by hoping too hard. If it doesn't happen I already have a whole bunch of prospects for her new mate.

I know what your saying, I wanted my frills to hatch some sooo bad, everytime she got up I would kinda think o goodness...get back on there!, but all went well. you know the cock bird of my frill only sits very little, unlike some. so she will be ok, they may be a bit over the 18 days, because she has to take breaks. but thats ok. when it comes time to candle. I use a small mag light and just cup your hand around the egg for darkness and LOOK. do it when she gets up to eat and drink or poop. that would be so cool if you get a little one out of it.

Pegasus

· #13 · Mar 15, 2009

Kimberly, is this your birds first egg since you got them? I remember when I was starting, I got so egg-cited when I see the 1st egg of my pair and thought its fertile but after I candled it, it was disappointing but the egg is good so I know since then that unfertile happens in every pair of birds...You will be lucky too and you'll have your group of birds...

Kimberly_CA

Discussion Starter · #14 · Mar 16, 2009

It is their first egg with me but I have only had the pair for 3 1/2 months and I have no idea of their age....so this could be her 50th egg and I would not know.

So good news......she got off the egg just to poop and take a drink and within 4 minutes she was right back on it without any persuation from me. So that makes me feel a little better.

G

· #15 · Mar 16, 2009

just so you know some birds will sometimes get off their eggs early when they only have one egg in the nest so if your fake eggs come in please do put another one in the nest plus if the baby does hatch it will benefit the hatchling as far as splay legs goes too

Kimberly_CA

Discussion Starter · #16 · Mar 16, 2009

I will do that if they come in....

Hey so I would say that Nutmeg's sitting could be described as choppy. I have seen her take a two hour break, is that really bad?

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