New Macaw Momma

[comptonbre]

Please help a new grandma!!!
My military macaw layed an egg today. It has a big crack in it fro mthe landing. I also have two Amazon Parrots (boys) they all live together. I have put Momma and egg in one cage and the boys in another. Help please, the birth was a difficult one and we're tired! lol
What's next?

[Addicted to Tequila]

You won't like my answer:

I am assuming you want this egg to become a chick?

Do you have a male macaw as well? If not... the egg is not fertilized and you can let her sit on it for a while so that she does not "miss" it... but it would never hatch. Amazons and macaws do not interbreed.

If you DO have a male macaw... you are REALLY gonna hate my answer. If it has a crack... you are probably going to have problems. Bacteria can get it and cause all ends of havoc. From the embryo not developing... to it having major defects.

Perhaps Xaf or one of the other breeders might have more insight.

[Addicted to Tequila]

Welcome to the Board anyway!

[mmr]

If you only have 1 macaw the egg isn't fertile. But you also don't want totake the egg away if she is nesting on it. BUT since it is cracked you do need to replace ti with another fake egg. Then after a week, weeks, or month and she stops nesting on it then you take it out. If you take it away now it will only make her lay more and that can be very dangerous for her not to mention drains her body of calcium!

Welcome to the board!

[comptonbre]

Update.....She passed a second egg. Broken and odd shaped. I put a chicken egg in place of the first broken egg as advised. She has been sitting on it for days. I found a little blood in her cage after the second egg came. She seem okay but I'm worried. I have lots of questions, my main question is how long do I leave the chicken egg in her cage? Thanks in advance for all your help.

[kali]

i would get her to a vet. if her eggs aren't coming out right there must be something worng inside. i'm not an expert but i would think maybe a calcium problem??? but it really could be anything!! take her to the vet ASAP.

[mmr]

you are not answering our questions.
Do you have a male (bredding pair)? If there is no male the eggs will not be fertile. That is the big question right there.

Also you leave the egg in there till she stops sitting on it or looses interest. If she is sitting on the first one, then usually they don't lay another (unless there were 2 already "brewing").

Once she looses interest, then you take the egg out. Macaw eggs are smaller than a a"chicken egg". You need to find a fake egg etc that is the same size as a macaw egg.

[Lori~D]

She said she had her with Zons and not another mac. If she is sitting its best to get fake eggs that wont crack. yopu can order these online and get them in a few days. Try red bird products or L&M leg bands. I dont have time to get you a link. She will sit on them until she becomes bored. Possibly after 20-30 days. Until them she can get testy so watch out. The fact they are miss shapen could be she needs more calcium and possibly a vet check which could stop her from laying with the stress of it all. A little blood is normal - esp with her first clutch. Hens often have a set number of eggs they will lay and if you remove eggs they will continue to lay until the "program" is complete. Cracked and broken eggs will smell BAD! So I sufggest getting some macaw fakes soon. I would also consider separating her form the male birds before someone gets hurt. Even if they are not same specie - it will encourge nest y behavior. Egg binding is also an issue to ask your vet about and be prepared to understand if it should happen. keep us updated.

[jenseits]

Please get her to the vet, if she had trouble passing the egg. Egg binding can be a real, often fatal, problem. Since there's no possibility or desire to breed, you also want to DIScourage breeding behavior, as it can take a large physical toll on her body. Again, please take her to the vet to have her checked out. If she tries to pass another egg and she doesn't have enough calcium in her diet, she could really hurt herself.

Good luck!

[comptonbre]

Well Momma's doing great, she's a little moody (she bit me today) but she's been sitting on the chicken egg everyday! I'm so proud. I guess when she looses interest I'll take it away.