Questions about breeding.

Question
QUESTION: Today when my female came out of her nest box she stretched and I noticed a bare area around her lower stomach near her vent. Is this for incubating eggs? Also can I mark her egg to see if she eats it or lays another egg, for ex with a crayon or pencil? Finally, is it normal for parakeets to continue to mate even after the female starts laying eggs?

ANSWER: I wouldn't mark the eggs.  I don't see any reason to, considering they all generally hatch at the same time, so it doesn't matter if she has more, you won't be able to tell them apart at first anyway.  Also, they lay an egg every other day normally, so it should be pretty obvious if she's eaten one.  Plus, the eggs are pretty delicate, so its best not to handle them unless you have to.

The plucked feathers generally aren't for incubation.  More commonly, they will actually eat them for nutrition.  A female will even sometimes pluck her babies to eat their feathers.  Try giving them things like cuttlebones, hardboiled eggs (in small pieces, with the shell too), or fruits and veggies (small pieces at room temperature), such as apples and carrots are favorites.
Plucking can also be a sign of stress or boredom.  She'll probably grow out of the behavior once breeding time is over.

It is perfectly normal for them to continue to mate.  Once she has a few eggs, she'll stop in favor of taking care of her eggs.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for that info. How exactly should I give them the egg. What I've been doing is giving them half an egg shell(no yolk) every other day by putting it in the nest box. The female stays inside most of the time and when she does come out if I come near she jumps right back in. Should I put the egg in the box or should I somehow hand feed her?

Answer
Half shell is fine, but I'd keep the yolk, since it has a lot of protein in it.  Its throwing away a lot of nutrients.  That's the only part my budgies will eat.  Make sure the egg is at room temperature first though.

Don't worry about hand feeding her, and definitely don't put it in the nest box.  The female will probably toss it out anyway, but if you put it in there, it might get rotten, or invite germs into the nest.  Usually the male will bring her food in the nest box.  He will take the egg to her.

Its normal for her to move to the nest if you approach.  Even though she knows you and trusts you, these are her babies, and she will do anything to protect them.  Don't be surprised if you don't see her out of the nest much for the next few weeks.