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My Fischer's Lovebird and my Linneolated parakeet have been best buddies for almost a year. They've happily shared a cage and I assumed they were both males because they're both so affectionate talkative towards me. Oooops. Now I have two eggs. They aren't fertile,right? What should I do?
Thanks,
C

I highly doubt that they would be fertile, but if you want to make sure, you could always boil the eggs gently so you are sure they won't develop. After they are cool then you could return the eggs.

I bet that sure was a suprise for you!! Any idea which one is the hen?

The Linnie is the Momma. I don't want to stress her out. Should I slowly start pulling the eggs? I think there are three now.I'm not experienced at "candling", but I want to make sure they're not fertile before I dispose of them.
Thanks,
Cat

Did you have a nest box for them? If so and you don't want this to happen again, then take away anything they'll perceive to be a nest box.

I wouldn't take them away from them. I certainly wouldn't boil them. Theoretically, there is no way they'll be fertile, but who knows? I'd want to know.

Leave them where they are. The parents will eventually give up on them and then you can remove them.

christie wrote:I highly doubt that they would be fertile, but if you want to make sure, you could always boil the eggs gently so you are sure they won't develop. After they are cool then you could return the eggs. I bet that sure was a suprise for you!! Any idea which one is the hen?

I agree with Christe!

Boiling will work for a number of reasons. Since this poster just joined and probably (I assume) that they are not equipped with the proper egg wash to use, boiling will work just fine. It will kill all the bacteria on the outside of the egg so it will not be a factor for the parents. Since the embryo "might" have a chance to be fertile we would not want to encourage this. The boiled egg will be sterilized and not develop but provide something for the hen to sit on so she will not go back into the breeding cycle again.

irishcat68 wrote:My Fischer's Lovebird and my Linneolated parakeet have been best buddies for almost a year...

It's easier than that, Dutch. These aren't clutchmates. They're even different genera. Why would there be ANY chance the eggs would be fertile? Not an issue I've studied, but I've never thought it possible. If impossible, no need to separate them or to worry about the eggs. Just leave them 30 days or until the bird(s) tires of them, and then ditch them.

With any egg layer, we must be concerned about calcium depletion. If the female hasn't had bloodwork done in the last 3 months, I recommend having that done a couple weeks after her last egg is laid, so you'll know what her calcium level is. If your avian vet feels a calcium supplement is needed, good to know! Meantime, look at your birds' diet to ensure you're providing -- and she's swallowing! -- a lot of calcium-rich vegetables, plenty of dark green leaves such as broccoli, collards, and dandelions.

If she continues laying egg after egg beyond the normal size of a linnie's clutch, get her to a GOOD avian vet quickly.

Good luck!