Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:17 pm Post subject: Please Help
Hi
I bought two Kakariki's two weeks ago from a Pet Shop. I came home last night to discover one (the female) was not very well at all. She was only 12 weeks old (or so we were told). We later discovered that she was laying eggs. She only managed to get one out and it was too much for her. Sadly she died peacefully last night. I was just wondering if any of this is normal. I feel so annoyed at the people who sold her to me as they gave me no warning that she could lay eggs so early.
I would like to get another one to keep my male company but I am not sure if he will bond as well with another female now his companion is gone.
Sad to hear about your bird. 12 weeks is quite young to lay eggs. Usually a hen needs about a month on average to come at this stage. It means that she must be 8 weeks when she had her first stimulation to come into breeding condition. That is pretty young. I have had a bird that fledged around this age. Kakariki come easy and verry young into breeding condition but my opinion on this is that she must be at least a few months older.
Introducing another female is not a problem. Kakariki are verry flexible.
I agree with Peter,
egg binding is very uncommon in kakariki, and usually fatal.
The main causes are a female that has been forced to continually lay for a yr or so, OR a diet defiencty, lack of minerals, in particular calcium.
Quote:
I feel so annoyed at the people who sold her to me as they gave me no warning that she could lay eggs so early.
I think the issue is more mis management on their part, lack of good diet and the hen in poor conition to lay, and as Peter says, stimulated into laying too early. _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
I have just bought another one to keep my male company and I was advised that it was a female but I don't know how you tell the difference. Is there anything in particular that I should be looking for to find out?
The male is quite aggresive at the moment with the new female. Will this calm down once he gets used to her?
The male is protecting his territory. Introducing a male in a females territory is a better approach. If you don't have a second cage, try to change the environment in the cage and/or remove the cage.
My hen looks bigger than the cock. I don't know if this is just the age difference or not. If I post some pictures tomorrow will you advise as to what sex you think they are?
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