Dummy eggs and sizing

[Xoetix]

I’m looking at prep for just-in-case purposes, and hopefully this question makes sense - When buying dummy eggs, how likely is a bird to recognize the size being wrong?

I don’t mean sizing between a cockatiel and a cockatoo where it’s super obvious, but say between dummy eggs labeled for a macaw when the eggs are going to be for an SC2?

Would it be more prudent to wait and if Isadora lays an egg to just boil it and replace it?

 

[Zara]

@BrianB @Jan @Macawnutz

I have tagged some people who may know for you

 

[BrianB]

It couldn't hurt to take the first one, boil it, and get some quick measurements for reference before you put it back. Take a look at dummyeggs.com. THere are links to species specific sized eggs they sell on Amazon with their measurements.

 

[Macawnutz]

I buy mine from dummy eggs.com. You choose the species and they know the sizes. Don't boil and return.

 

[Xoetix]

boil it, and get some quick measurements for reference before you put it back

Don't boil and return

Y'all just gave me completely opposing advice

Why is boiling/returning a good or a bad idea? Sorry, just trying to weigh options

 

[Mizzely]

Ripley tries to incubate 1.5" pine cubes so I feel like they might have some wiggle room in the size department

 

[Macawnutz]

Birds sit on eggs for 30 days or better. How long do you think that hard-boiled egg is going to last?

 

[Xoetix]

Birds sit on eggs for 30 days or better. How long do you think that hard-boiled egg is going to last?

Well that actually answered a question I didn’t know I had - I had been under the impression that it was just for a few days to try to stop anymore eggs being laid.

 

[Icey]

Here's a pic of Dolly's last egg (left) and one of the dummy eggs I ordered online.
They didn't get the size accurately, but hoping it will do when the time comes.


Excuse my feet. I can't wear any footwear around Frankie. Lol

 

[BrianB]

You mentioned it in your question so I suggested it, but a 30-day-old boiled egg.... ugh. I think the dummy eggs are close enough in size that the birds may not notice the difference when you swap them.

 

[Zara]

As additional info, as much as my birds are smaller than everyones here, I have had the same hen lay different size eggs, I had one that was super big one time, the rest can vary a few mm.
Edit; they also can vary in weight

 

[Peachfaced]

Ripley tries to incubate 1.5" pine cubes so I feel like they might have some wiggle room in the size department

The male birds all share one brain cell. Give him a break.

 

[Macawnutz]

Ripley tries to incubate 1.5" pine cubes so I feel like they might have some wiggle room in the size department

Is that actual 1.5" or home depot 1.5 inches? Bears a strong resemblance to male measurement I'm sure...

 

[Mizzely]

Is that actual 1.5" or home depot 1.5 inches? Bears a strong resemblance to male measurement I'm sure...

2x2s so somewhere between 1.5 and 2

 

[Macawnutz]

2x2s so somewhere between 1.5 and 2

Yah. Much closer to 1.5 and no where near 2.

 

[Jan]

Birds sit on eggs for 30 days or better. How long do you think that hard-boiled egg is going to last?

Macaw, Cockatoo eggs incubate for 26-28 days, Cockatiel is along 21 days smaller parrots along 18-21 days.

Dummy eggs should be as close as possible in size and same coloring. When I use to breed parrots or even a few pet birds I had that laid eggs I just took the eggs away when it became due time to hatch especially if I knew they were infertile. If fertile I gave it about 4 days longer for hatching.