I have a male and female parakeet. The female constantly lays eggs but they are never fertile. Why?

Question

I have seen them mate before, she lays on them all the time and the male feeds her so why aren't they hatching?

Answer 1

if they don't have a nesting box that could be the problem!

Answer 2

Aside from what everyone else said, are you are sure they are actually "breeding" and also have you candled the eggs to make sure they are good eggs?

Copulation

         Although all birds have internal fertilization, most do not have a p***s; a p***s is only present in waterfowl and the large flightless birds. Copulation may continue regularly and only stop when egg laying is over or may continue through incubation. In some species, copulation is necessary to stimulate nest-building and/or incubation.

        The entire process of courtship and reproduction is complex, with external stimuli and hormones interacting to produce a sequence of events from copulation to incubation. Most often the external stimulus is the lengthening period of daylight. A less passive influence is exemplified by the Red-billed Dioch of Africa which starts to breed when green grass emerges after a heavy rainfall.

How to candle an egg:

http://www.nifty-stuff.com/candling-eggs...

I know with my Lady Gouldian Finches, they are very private with their mating rituals and they go into their nest for "privacy". My Society's don't care they do it anywhere anytime.

Answer 3

Are they Budgies or Cockatiels??

If they are Budgie's,Is the male old enough to breed ,likewise the female,they need to be at least 12,months.

Diet has quite a bit to do with successful breeding.

Try soaking some of there seed with an addition of a little Hemp and Niger.Soak overnight in warm water,drain rinse place some-where warm till it sprouts(2-3 days) then feed this to them through-out the breeding term,and into the rearing of young.

Make sure that your birds have a good supply of Cuttle-bone and a Mineral block,these are all essentials leading up to breeding.

Try giving them a small quantity of greens such as Kale,Broccoli,Spinach even Carrot tops,if you live in the U.K.Dandelion leaves and seeding heads before they burst along with seeding grasses are ideal to fetch your birds into breeding condition.

Finally  if you are in the U.K.this not the time to breed Budgies or Cockatiels as they will shortly become into their molting period.

Answer 4

One thing Wacky has missed is are they in a cage with a nest box or are they just laying on the floor,they need a nest box.

But the rest of his advice is good.

Answer 5

does she brood them? do you have a nesting box? maybe she or the male is infertile. watch out for egg binding to,  parakeets can get strokes from this. Mine died from this.