*groan* please help!!!

[MiloMacaw]

OK this all just happened too fast for my tastes, so It's left me without knowing what to do!

Sushi, the mamma mask, laid her first egg on the floor of the cage. She totally refuses the nesting box, which I don't blame her seeing as it is TOO SMALL for her. (In desperatly seeking a nesting box I went to three different stores and ended up buying the only one I could find which I was told was for budgies... but its FINCH size) I feel awful for her because she was taken out of her very elaborate nest that she and Sake (her mate) had built up in their nasty little cage at the "breeders" and I was unable to take the nest with me, and she didnt have time or want to build a nest in her new cage.

So here are my problems:

Right now, they are in a very small cage. Going on the fact that I had little time to prepare and was just trying to get them out of a bad situation, I had limited cage space. I ordered brand new cages for everyone, but they have not arrived yet. Right now, I have a 30'' X 20'' X 20'' flight cage split in two (so 15'' X 20'' X 20'') with the fischers on one side and Sushi and Sake on the other. They have the small nesting box but ignored it. Looking back, I should have split one of the other cages and given the big cage to the pair I *knew* was expecting, but I was thinking the biggest one I had needed to be the one I had to split.

1) Should I remove the fischers and the divider and give the masks the whole flight with a new large nesting box, even though she has already started to lay? or would the change stress her out more?

2)Should I give her a box on the floor and leave the cage as it is? that would mean a very small box (this is what I have done for the time being)

3)If I do move the fischers and take down the divider and give them a bigger box, should I put the egg in the nesting box, or ... ?

4) Should I leave the cage the way it is except get a bigger box and put the egg in the box?

So many choices, so little time! heeeeeeeeeeelp

[Lori~D]

I personally (if I wasnt ready for everything) would either put them in a divided cage or something until your ready. OR reduce the lightiing and either get rid of the egg or leave it if she tends to lay more. It may or may not be fertile but I would at least addle it anyway immediatly. I dont know how you feel about it but until your ready - this is what I would do. The egg laid on the cage floor or feed box prob wont hatch even if it was due to its lack of care and temp. If you do put it in a box dont turn it over, fertile eggs that are not yet showing fertile should not be moved - this is the most critical time of developement. The time we cannot see developement. Just like our own eggs.