Unhatched Egg!

**Josephus** · 03-20-2019, 02:24 AM

Hey. One of my budgies laid 4 eggs. This is her third clutch. Three of the eggs hatched but it has been about 5 days since that and the fourth still hasn't hatched. All of her egg have been fertile so far. Could something be wrong with the egg? Is it possible that it is just taking a while? If something is wrong with it when should I take it out? Thank you for all the help so far.

Josephus.

**#Kiara** · 03-20-2019, 02:51 AM

I'm not an experienced breeder, but if you have kept a log of her broods, was there another time when something similar happened? If not, it may be a good idea to wait until you're sure the egg can't hatch... then remove it! Hope that helps

**Josephus** · 03-20-2019, 06:41 AM

Thank you for the advice. I held my flashlight up to it and it looked like it was half empty. When do you think I can take it away? The Mom is busy feeding the three other babies.

**#Kiara** · 03-20-2019, 07:17 AM

Well, the rule of thumb is that any budgie egg unhatched after 23 days won't hatch... so if you know when it was laid, which you ought to if you are breeding them, then you could probably figure out that one. Also if Mum is still sat on it you may have to be careful, she mayn't want to be disturbed!

**maxollie** · 03-20-2019, 09:08 AM

Hi, and welcome! In my view it is best to leave the egg right where it is in the nest. Moving any babies or anything inside the nest now, could cause the hen to abandon her babies and the nest. It does appear that last egg will not hatch, but it is OK to leave it for now. After another week or so, after all the babies have gotten a good start, you might consider removing it. You could leave it even for 3 weeks. You may see that sooner or later the hen will push that egg to the side so that the babies have more room. When or if that happens, that is a signal that the hen knows the egg will not hatch. And then, it would be safe to remove it.

Congrats on your new babies!

**Josephus** · 03-21-2019, 01:23 AM

She has pushed her egg away. That means that I should take it away now, right? Thank you for all the help.

**maxollie** · 03-21-2019, 01:02 PM

It would be your decision, but if it were me, I would consider removing it, because Nature has told her the chick inside is not alive. That is why she pushed it aside.