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What do I do if my bird
lays eggs?
First we need to understand what triggers egg
laying.
There are several factors that influence egg-laying
birds:
- Temperature of environment
- Nutritional status of the bird
- Strength of bond between owner and
bird.
Day length and
time of year go together for birds living outside or in the
wild. Genetically they are programmed that when the days get longer
(summer is approaching), it is time to get ready to breed and
produce young. Summer time is an ideal time for producing young
because when the temperature is warmer, the food supply is at the
maximum. Birds living inside however, are in a regulated
environment-constant temperature and day length can trick a pet bird
into thinking that it is laying season all year around. All pet
parrots require 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark optimally.
Their 12 hours sleep should be uninterrupted-that is they need to be
away from the other members of the family in a warm, dark, quiet
room. Many chronic egg layers live in busy, active homes where they
actually get 10 or less hours of uninterrupted sleep. Increasing
sleep time will help discourage chronic egg production.
As stated, most pet birds live in regulated
environments. This is not a bad thing, but consistently warm
temperatures can stimulate egg laying. Temperatures over 75 degrees
are important for unwell parrots, but healthy hens should not be
kept consistently at or above this all year around. You can vary the
temperature throughout the year-warmer in the summer, a bit cooler
in the winter (but not below 70).
The more healthy and content a hen is
the most likely it is to lay eggs. This seems to hold true for most
small species-cockatiels, lovebirds etc. Having an egg-laying hen is
really a complement to you! Egg laying, however is physically
stressful on the bird. Egg laying depletes the body of calcium,
proteins and valuable minerals. Because of this, the diet fed is
very important. A healthy diet for an egg laying bird consists of a
pelleted diet, calcium rich veggies (leafy greens), with only a
small amount of seeds. Consult your avian veterinarian for the diet
best suited for your bird. Birds NOT fed an appropriate diet may
have an increased chance of egg binding, seizures, fractures in the
legs /back and general poor overall condition.
Birds that are strongly bonded with their
owner, or a mate bird, are more likely to lay eggs. We see this
commonly in singly kept female cockatiels. This does not mean that
you should run out and buy other birds. Instead, change the bird’s
environment. Move her cage around the house. Rotate toys more
frequently. Install a grate at the bottom of the cage. Don’t punish
broody behavior but don’t encourage it either. Ignore it. Distract
her with a toy. Limit stroking to the head, being careful to avoid
the back, rump, under the wings and stomach. Avoid feeding her on
your shoulder wet, moist foods. (This is okay, if you are hand
feeding a baby bird, but remember that males regurgitate food to
their mates-this is a breeding behavior.)
For birds that chronically lay, there are
several treatments available:
a). Hormonal therapy- HCG, Testosterone,
Lupron
b). Surgery
Hormonal therapy is considered first. Weekly
to monthly injections can stop the ovary from producing eggs. There
are risks associated with surgery in birds: blood loss and
complications from the anesthetic (or complications from the
surgical procedure) are all concerns. See your avian veterinarian
for more information on whether any of these are appropriate for
your bird.
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