Cockatiel eggs untamed female

[michbird]

I have a cockatiel who after years suddenly is laying over dozen eggs by herself. Should I consider adding a male. I don't think she would get a long with another cockatiel. What do you think?

I once introduced two love birds and had to separate them because one would bite the other.

 

[Bird-Mom]

It all depends if you want to breed and have babies.

 

[Mizzely]

Are you leaving the eggs in the cage or removing them immediately? If you remove them before she abandons them, it triggers her body to continue to lay. You can try flooding the nest with fake eggs, or boil the infertile ones so that if they accidentally break its not so messy and stinky.

 

[michbird]

I leave them all (over a dozen or more) but then remove them and she continues to lay.. Some have broken but they don't seem to smell.

 

[Bird-Mom]

Having a mate probably won't stop her. Chronic egg layers lay no matter what. So it's up to you, if you want to breed and be responsible for all the babies.
Regardless I would suggest you get her on a calcium supplement. I'm using zoo med avian calcium.

 

[michbird]

What does the calcium supplement help with?

My question is if it is safe to introduce a new bird?

 

[JLcribber]

Introducing another bird will do nothing to help you with this problem and it is a problem. A cockatiel that lays a dozen eggs, especially after many years is going to quickly deplete her reserves for making and laying eggs. What you need to do is take this bird to an avian vet and discuss options like lupron shots or a possible implant. If she continues to lay at the pace she is, she will kill herself.

Some good information
Discouraging Breeding Behavior In Pet Birds — For The Birds DVM — Avian Vet

 

[Bird-Mom]

Producing eggs takes a LOT of calcium from the bird. Especially a chronic egg layer who is just producing them left and right. It's taking away from her own body's supply. It is just my suggestion that you be sure she is getting enough calcium. Sometimes a cuttlebone isn't enough. Over doing is bad as well it can cause kidney stones. I give my breeder zoo med avian calcium and all my birds get Oasis bird vitamins.
As to introducing a new bird. Well, this will have to be done slowly as with any animal. Have him in a seperate cage and allow them to talk to each other. After he has settled in you can allow them some outside time together. Since she is laying eggs it is best to not allow him on her cage. She may get very protective and grab his toes. Instead bring them in a different room or cover the cages for this time. Do not leave them unsupervised. I'm sure you will be able to tell how well they are either getting along or not getting along.
Birds are just like us, they need time to bond to someone. So, I wouldn't suggest getting him unless you plan to have him as a pet incase they do not get along. Make sure he is healthy before introducing him to her. And as I said before, you will need to prepare yourself to care for the babies. You don't know how good of a mother she will be so get yourself knowledgable in hand feeding just incase you need to care for them if she were to abanden them. Otherwise the parents should care for them very well.

 

[michbird]

Oh interesting, she has a cuttlebone which she didn't use and now I've seen her using it.

 

[lesliekiki]

Thats a great article on For The Birds. Thank you for directing me to that site.

 

[Monica]

I wouldn't recommend adding a male, either....


Have you done anything to try and discourage the egg laying?

 

[Laurul Feather Cat]

Give your hen multiple sources of calcium and mineral blocks. It will keep her healthy. Second, leave all the eggs she lays inside the cage for her to play with. They cannot be fertile since she has no mate. Let her play with them and keep them, removing only the ones that break or leak or stink. Egg shells are NOT air or water tight and the eggs eventually dry out and can be used as dud eggs in the future to help limit the number of eggs she produces. I practice fertile egg removal birth control with my birds; checking for fertile ones and removing them before the hens and cocks can hatch them.

If you want to give her a flock mate, decide if you want a hen or cock for her companion. Hens get along better with one another and you don't have to worry about fertile eggs, but cock birds allow your hen to have a mate and be happier, in my opinion. If you don't want babies, you will have to remove the fertile eggs before they hatch.

Cockatiels, budgies, most parrots, live in flock groups which are made up of mated pairs. They enjoy the company of birds of their same species.

 

[michbird]

She's stop the laying of eggs. Now I'm seeing her scratching (with her beak) her back feathers.

I think it's called feather picking but she's not bald or have bare skin. I have seen some feathers on the floor and on the cage. And, one or two feathers still on her body sticking a little bit up instead of flat probably from doing this.

Today, I took her outside to enjoy the weather and get some Vitamin D from the sun, as I heard this may be helpful. She didn't do this behavior while outside and I bathe her a little bit and cleaned the bottom of the cage with the hose. She has a cuttlebone that she is still going at it. I'm not sure if the cuttlebone still works but I'm guessing yes (It has two colors).

Shall I get her toys? I was thinking of a ladder or anything good for a cockatiel.

 

[Animallover03]

 

[Tiel Feathers]

Glad she stopped laying eggs. How do you know she isn't molting? Sometimes cockatiels get kind of itchy when they molt. My guess is that is what is going on. Outdoor time is great for her, as long as she is safe and it's not too cold. Does she go out in her cage? I would recommend several toys. My tiels like any kind of toy they can shred, like piñatas, balsa wood, corn husks, and other natural fibers. One of them also really likes swings.

 

[michbird]

Maybe she's molting. Outdoor tends to be sunnier but sometimes windy. I cover half of the cage to give them shade but I'll make surest to leave them out when cold. She doesn't get out of the cage. She has some toys and a mirror but she just uses the cuttlebone. The cage has a swing but she doesn't use it, I probably need one made for her or lower because that one is kind of high from the perch. I will get her those toys....

 

[michbird]

*sure to not

 

[lesliekiki]

Hi. I think she must be exhausted and depleted from laying so many eggs. Adding another tiel at this time could just add more stress. I would think if there were any changes in the environment or foods to trigger suddenly trigger all the egg laying. If not it could just be a hormonal surge.
By tiel doesn't care much for ladders. But loves toys she can keep busy with. He loves toys he with shreds of paper to pull and small soft balsa wood pieces. By the way my tiel wasn't use to toys and was scared of them. Start with small size toys if he's wild and not use to toys. Otherwise they might frighten her at first.
Taking her to avian vet is probably the best idea for egg laying problem. Good luck.