I bought a budgie off the internet a while back for only ten dollars. when i went to pick her up, she ws kept in a tiny cage with no cuttle bone or vegges, just food and water. the cage also had NO perches or toys! i felt horrible for her and i was happy that i got to take her home with me where she was put in a huge cage with a male budgie. shes not sick, or carrying mites, as i had her checked out by the vet.
but ive always thought she was a male until recently when she laid eggs! her cere was white, with blue around the edges, and because of the blue i thought she must be a male.
any way, sorry for rambling, i read that a white cere meens there not in breeding condition, and so im worried about her. i want to make sure she has enough calcium in her system and the only way i can make sure she gets it is bye opening the top of the nesting box and holding the cuttlebone while she eats it.
it doesnt seem to upset her, and she happily nibbles on it, but i wanted to know if this is considered a bad thing to do? is it bad that i put my hand in the box while shes sitting on her eggs and feeding her?
i know budgies hide illness well and i caught her sneezing, but there was no discharge so i hope thats ok?
she laid 5 eggs that are all fertile, but she threw one out of the nest the other morning and im not sure why :S shes a first time mother, but she seems to be taking the roll very seriously so im confussed as to why she would do that?
also theres a third bird in the cage whose to young to sex,would he/she be responsible for the egg being thrown out of the cage? even though i dont think it would be able to get anywhere near the box as the male is gaurding it well.
also, is it normal for the male to be more aggressive towards me while hes gaurding the nest box?
thanks for any answers, and i dont need anymore information except for the qwestions i asked because ive read alot, and know almost everything i think i need to know regarding breeding.
thank you for that answer, but i do hang the suttlebone and she never eats it on her own, only when i feed her :S
