Parrots are wonderful pets that can brighten up your home with their colorful feathers and cheerful chirps. Unlike some other animals, they don't require much space or outdoor exercise. All they need are a comfortable cage, some toys, and regular food and water.
If you want to raise parrots from eggs, you need to be careful about where you get them. Some sellers may try to scam you by selling infertile eggs that will never hatch. Whether you buy parrot eggs online or in a physical store, always check their quality and authenticity.
In this article, you will find more information about parrot eggs and how to buy them. You may discover that parrots are the perfect addition to your family of pets.
All About Parrot Eggs
If you want a lifelong friend and companion, you may want to start off with a parrot egg and when you are a young adult or teenager. These birds are known to live for about 60 years. Here are some facts about parrot eggs to help you decide if you want to go that route
Fertile parrot eggs take a while to hatch.
Not as long as some birds or mammals but you will have to wait between 2 1/2 to 4 weeks before you see your new pet. The size of the bird is the determining factor in how long those eggs take and the larger the bird, the longer they take.
If you are starting from scratch, the eggs need a warm environment with a temperature of around 37 degrees C, or 108 degrees F. @ to 6 eggs are laid by the female and she usually lays only 1 egg per day.
Fertile Parrot Eggs
It is important to make sure you are buying or your female parrot lays fertile eggs. There is a simple way to to make sure your parrot’s eggs are going to lay little parrots. First, you have to wait about 7 to 10 days to make sure there is something to look at.
Then you hold the eggs up to a candle or a flashlight in a darkened room. The first stage is a dark spot on the yolk. Next time you check, you should see little veins running down the side of the egg. Then close to hatching you should see nothing but black colour.
If an egg is not fertile then you may only see a yellowish colour inside the egg. There should also be no veins in the egg either.
Hatching Parrot Eggs
One risk in having your parrot lay eggs is that some of these birds will eat those eggs and you will have to remove them before that takes place. If the parent parrots do not do that, then you should wait and let the eggs incubate naturally for 14 days.
Next, when you pull the eggs and put them in an incubator, make sure the larger end is elevated. That is the air chamber end and you do not want the vibration of the incubator ruining the eggs.
Third, you should use an incubator designed for parrot eggs and keep the temperature at a constant 99.3 degrees F with 40 to 50% humidity. After that is done, rotate the eggs 180 degrees once a day.
Once you are at this stage, you need to candle the eggs on a daily basis, repairing cracks or throwing out those eggs that didn’t make it. When the draw down occurs, move the eggs into a hatchery which should also be set at 99.3 degrees F. Your eggs should hatch within 2 to 3 days after this move.
The Reasons Why Eggs Fail to Hatch
It happens and you should get used to seeing this if you are going to be a breeder. Life is not perfect and even parrots do not get 100% births every time they lay eggs. Here are the reasons why eggs do not hatch:
- The egg is laid without a male to fertilize them.
- Female parrots lay eggs even when the male has failed to do his part.
- Chicks fail to develop in small eggs.
- The female may ignore her eggs due to stress or inexperience.
- The egg may have fallen and broken on the floor because the nest is the wrong size and in the wrong place.
- The male bird may be infertile.
- Too many other birds too close to the mother and she is too stressed to sit on them.
- Lack of calcium and other nutrients
Single Parrots Lay Eggs
This is a common phenomenon among parrots, both in the wild and in captivity. There are certain factors that stimulate the female to produce an egg, even without fertilization from a male. These factors can include seasonal changes, longer daylight hours, and availability of certain foods that signal to the female that it is time to lay an egg. In captivity, simple things like holding the parrot or giving it a bath can also trigger the egg-laying process.
However, these eggs will not be fertile since no male has been involved. You can let the female keep the egg for a few days or until she loses interest in it. If she does not lose interest, you can remove it when she is not looking.
If you remove the infertile egg right away, the female may lay more eggs to replace the ones she lost. You can substitute the real egg with a fake one, as the female will not notice the difference.
Removing the eggs too soon can cause health problems for the female, such as egg binding or improper body function.
Can you keep a Female from Laying Eggs
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If your female parrot lays too many eggs, you can take some steps to reduce this production. First, avoid dark places that might trigger her nesting instinct.
Second, limit mushy foods like mashes. Third, expose her to only 8 to 10 hours of daylight each day. Fourth, touch your female parrot only around the head and neck. If she has a toy that she is attached to, remove it.
Finally, switch her diet to seeds only, so she lacks the calcium needed to lay eggs. You don't need to worry if your parrot lays eggs healthily. You should be concerned only if your female shows abnormal behaviours.
Parrot Egg Laying Season
One advantage of owning a parrot is that they do not produce an egg every day or every month. Parrots have a specific breeding season that varies according to their species.
For instance, some parrot breeds may only mate during February and March. The Ringneck parrot typically has its breeding season between December and February. The African Grey Parrot, on the other hand, can breed from July to January.
Check with the breeder or pet store to find the exact breeding season for your particular parrot.
Buy Parrot Eggs Online
This is an easy way to get a parrot egg before or just after it has hatched. Like most anything, a good internet search will turn up more than a dozen outlets where you can buy fertile parrot eggs.
But buying your parrot egg online does not guarantee you will get a fertile egg. There are unethical and dishonest parrot egg sellers out there and they will lie to you. To protect yourself, you should investigate the egg seller a little bit before you make a commitment to buy.
Also, be forewarned. Parrot eggs are not cheap and even online they can run you $60. The species of parrot will dictate the price and you can get cheaper eggs or more expensive ones from the same egg seller.
Parrot Breeders & Suppliers
Parrots are popular pets and one reason for that is that they are very social. But before you buy you should make sure you are committed to taking care of the bird for decades. Parrot breeders can help you select the right one for your situation.
If you are not sure where a parrot breeder is located or if there is one near you, a simple internet search will take care of that quickly. Just type in the words parrot breeder near me and you should have along list of possibilities to check out.
Keep in mind that not all breeders are honest or ethical so do a little research before you visit their locations. This research will help protect you from those dishonest or unethical breeders.
There are just too many breeders and pet stores to list here and not all of them will be in your area so it is best if you tackle this task yourself.
Parrot Egg: FAQs
#1. What do I feed my parrot?
Parrots eat both meat and vegetables and their diet will consist of nuts, flowers, fruit, buds, seeds and insects. Seeds may be their favourite food.
#2. How long do I need to incubate my parrot eggs before they hatch?
In nature, the parents take turns sitting on the eggs. The reason for this is that the eggs take between 18 and 30 days to hatch. If you are using an incubator wait till about the 7th day before transferring the eggs to that device.
#3. When should I incubate my parrot’s eggs?
There are several reasons why you should move your unhatched parrot eggs to an incubator. The first one is your female’s history with eggs. If she is known to break the shell then you should remove the eggs from the cage.
A second good reason is when your female continually abandons her eggs. This behaviour may be seen in her hiding the eggs somewhere in the cage.
#4. Do I really need to candle the eggs every day?
This is a smart move to make and yes you should. This allows you to find unfertile eggs and remove them from the incubator and toss them away. Also, it helps you keep an eye on the chick’s development.
#5. How can I make sure my female parrot lays good eggs?
The first step in this process is to make sure her eggs have been fertilized by a male. If it hasn’t then the egg will not produce a little chick. The second step to take is to make sure she gets enough calcium and other nutrients in her diet.
#6. Once the egg has hatched when will my new parrot mature?
Parrot chicks are blind for the first two weeks of its life and won’t start growing new feathers until about the 3rd week. Then depending on the species, your parrot chick may not mature for 1 to 4 years.
Some Final Words
Raising a parrot from the egg is a rewarding way to bond with a lifelong companion. Parrots have a long lifespan, which means that you can enjoy their company from your college years until your old age, if you start early enough.
Throughout that time, you can try to teach it to talk, or you may be able to sell the parrot eggs to your friends who are interested in owning a pet bird. Parrots are lifetime friends that fill a void in your home life.