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She should lay around 3-4 (that is the normal clutch size), but breeders have reported hens laying upwards of 7 eggs. I am hoping she keeps this clutch small, since it is her first.

If any of them are fertile, they would hatch after 28 days. But so far, it doesn't look like the first one is fertile.

If any are fertile, I don't think it would be too hard to give them up. As long as I know the homes they go to are great homes, I won't have a huge problem. But if they ever have a fertile egg, I am keeping the first baby for sure. Since I have never had a baby Caique, I have to keep one! I want to experience a baby for myself, both my fids came here at 1 year or older (Dweezel was 1, Zorro was 6 or so). I do already have one person on the waiting list, though she knows it may be a long time before they have babies, if they ever do.

I forgot, I took pics today of her swollen bum, it was just hours before she laid the second egg. I also took some of Dweezel to compare:

Zorro:



Dweezel:


Dweezel on the left, Zorro on the right:

Wow.. this is so cool... little tummy! Thank you for sharing!

That is soooo cool! I remember when the cockatiels I had when I was a kid laid eggs and hatched babies. The whole process was so interesting and fun!

Can you "candle" the eggs to tell if they're fertilized? I've always heard that after a little while, you can tell if the eggs are fertile by holding them in front of a candle in a dimly lit room. If they're not fertile you can see light through thm, but if they are, you can barely see anything through them. I think I remember doing this with our cockatiel's eggs and it worked.

I use an LED flashlight to candle all of my eggs. So far, they do not appear to be fertile, which doesn't surprise me. I have little hopes that they will be fertile this time, but I hope this clutch means that next time they will be fertile.

Great pics Bri - thanks for sharing your experience with us. (crossing fingers)

Freddy

wow I am so happy I checked in tonight....congrats I will be looking out for future developments. Sooooo happy for you and your flock
Louie says whooo hooo too

Egg number 3 is here! Right on time!



And a video of Zorro getting very mad at me and Dweezel:
http://s112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/brimonster/?action=view&current=MVI_0006.flv

Oh, that little caique temper (piggy squeal). She is so cute and very protective of those little eggs. What a good mama.

OK, so how did you get the egs away from her long enough to see if they were fertile?

Well, it is tricky! I first lure the birds into the main part of the cage and then stuff a towel in the nest box hole from the inside of the box so they can't get back in (Dweezel would kill me if I touched the eggs while he was in there!). Then I use an LED flashlight to candle them. So far, none of the 3 eggs seem to be fertile, but I did expect that.

That is just the coolest! Also right around Valentines day. My son who is 9 now was conceived Valentines week. He is a love child for sure!! I love how they look so cozy in the nest box!! Congrats, keep us posted...Nanc