Cockatiel refuses to stop being hormonal - maybe has an egg

[rahosa]

So my cockatiel had life saving surgery due to being egg-bound a year ago. Since then we've done everything we can to discourage her being hormonal but it's not working. Even the implant didn't work. She successfully laid eggs in December after the surgery so I know she can do it, but I don't want to encourage it by any means.

I'm worried that she might have an egg right now. Her vent is slightly swollen, stomach looking slightly bigger, and she's just trying to mate 24/7.

If I keep shooing her away from nesting places will this cause any issues? Do I need to leave her alone to nest to get rid of this egg if she has one, or should I keep trying to keep her out of nesting spots?

 

[Finchbreed]

Does she have a mate?
Does she have a nest?
Who/what is she trying to mate with?
Where is she trying to nest?
Trying to figure out what is triggering this - maybe she like some human women - is just one of those natural mothers, with high reproductive hormones.

 

[rahosa]

Thanks for your reply. Just an update - she did have an egg and laid it successfully last night. She didn't care for it though and has ignored it all night.

But to answer your questions:

• Does she have a mate?
  • She does and has always hated him until a year ago when they started mating for some reason and that led to her being egg bound
• Does she have a nest?
  • No. I am actively trying to stop her from having anywhere she could nest. We move the cage around often too. We also only give them 8 hours of sunlight.
• Who/what is she trying to mate with?
  • Her cage mate
• Where is she trying to nest?
  • Bottom of the cage in one of the corners. We'll put stuff in the corner so she can't back up into it when she gets extra crazy about it but it doesn't really stop her.
• Trying to figure out what is triggering this - maybe she like some human women - is just one of those natural mothers, with high reproductive hormones.
  • She definitely doesn't like us. They were not tamed at all when we got them and they still don't want human interaction. They actually don't even really know how to interact with each other. They don't really know how to groom each other.
  • She's 9 years old now and has never been hormonal until a year ago when she was egg bound.

 

[Reshah]

My theory with cockatiels is that they have been mass produced for decades with the only selection being what bird reproduces the most. I think this sadly has led to horny shortlived birds.

Do you have the cage grill in place? I doubt she would like it to nest on as much as the cage floor.

What about her diet? These birds breed after the rains in the wild so rich foods trigger them. You might be able to feed her an austerity diet or ration her feed

 

[erynez888]

From what I’ve read, if she’s egg-bound before, you definitely want to keep an eye on her closely. Shooing her away from nests is usually good because it can help stop her from getting more eggs started, but if she already has one stuck, she might need a bit of space or even a vet check to be safe. Maybe watch her eating and drinking too, and if she seems really uncomfortable or lethargic, better get some professional help.

 

[rahosa]

My theory with cockatiels is that they have been mass produced for decades with the only selection being what bird reproduces the most. I think this sadly has led to horny shortlived birds.

Do you have the cage grill in place? I doubt she would like it to nest on as much as the cage floor.

What about her diet? These birds breed after the rains in the wild so rich foods trigger them. You might be able to feed her an austerity diet or ration her feed

Cage grill is there. She loves the grill actually, lol. I wonder if she'd like it less without the grill.

Her diet is something I've been trying to work on. I've tried so many ways to get her to eat fresh foods, but she's absolutely repulsed by anything that has moisture. Though I think I've read warm moist foods are hormonal triggers anyway. I did finally get her eating mostly pellets though. But, she'll only eat the red ones, lol. She leaves every other color in the bowl. I've been giving less food as she's more hormonal. She'll get a treat maybe once a week and only if she eats it from my hand which she hates doing.

She's just very egg crazy this past year. She actually laid a second egg a few days after her open abdominal surgery to remove her first egg. She's insane.

 

[rahosa]

From what I’ve read, if she’s egg-bound before, you definitely want to keep an eye on her closely. Shooing her away from nests is usually good because it can help stop her from getting more eggs started, but if she already has one stuck, she might need a bit of space or even a vet check to be safe. Maybe watch her eating and drinking too, and if she seems really uncomfortable or lethargic, better get some professional help.

I'll continue discouraging her once this batch of eggs is done, I guess. I left the egg for her so she doesn't try to replace it, but she seems to be ignoring it. If it happens like the last two times, she'll lay two eggs and stop, but never pay any attention to them. Also the first egg seems to be very huge for her and the second passes easily.

 

[Finchbreed]

She is a middle aged female Cockatiel - prime breeding age - with a mate.
She is behaving in a normal healthy manner, the only way to perhaps stop this, is to move the birds where they can't see each other and even better can't hear each other.
Until her natural breeding cycle is complete.
In the mean time to keep your bird from becoming unhealthy and risk her becoming egg bound again, feed her on a health seed and greens diet.
Do not remove the eggs, this signals to her that she has not laid a full clutch of eggs. Many birds do not take any notice of their eggs till after the 2nd or 3rd egg is in the "nest" then they sit. So it might be a good idea to make fake eggs and replace the real ones with these so she can do what nature is telling her to and sit.
Resha - I can't comment on where you are from - but in Australia - the majority of breeders select for a balance between colour and productivity while looking after their birds as the special creatures that they are. There are sadly always a few exceptions who just breed for profit.

 

[Reshah]

I am in America we have mass producers of birds that sell to places like petco PetSmart and other large chains. I did not mean to imply the statement of breeders in general. I myself breed birds as a hobby.

 

[Zara]

I will tag @Rebel who has also had similar issues and posted about them if you wish to read through their previous posts.

Eggs are so complicated and whhat works for one, doesn't always work for another. It can be very frustrating to be unable to successfully intervene.

Have you spoken with your vet about hormone therapy? Injections?

 

[rahosa]

She is a middle aged female Cockatiel - prime breeding age - with a mate.
She is behaving in a normal healthy manner, the only way to perhaps stop this, is to move the birds where they can't see each other and even better can't hear each other.
Until her natural breeding cycle is complete.
In the mean time to keep your bird from becoming unhealthy and risk her becoming egg bound again, feed her on a health seed and greens diet.
Do not remove the eggs, this signals to her that she has not laid a full clutch of eggs. Many birds do not take any notice of their eggs till after the 2nd or 3rd egg is in the "nest" then they sit. So it might be a good idea to make fake eggs and replace the real ones with these so she can do what nature is telling her to and sit.
Resha - I can't comment on where you are from - but in Australia - the majority of breeders select for a balance between colour and productivity while looking after their birds as the special creatures that they are. There are sadly always a few exceptions who just breed for profit.

Thanks for your response. separating them might be a good idea, I'd just have to get another cage for them. I only have the one big flight cage and then a tiny hospital cage for when she had her surgery.

I left the egg in there. Currently trying to find a good option for a fake egg.

 

[Rebel]

I will tag @Rebel who has also had similar issues and posted about them if you wish to read through their previous posts.

Eggs are so complicated and whhat works for one, doesn't always work for another. It can be very frustrating to be unable to successfully intervene.

Have you spoken with your vet about hormone therapy? Injections?

Lupron is the only thing that works for my girl and so far each injection has only
lasted about 5 weeks.
Im not sure if Lupron is an option for the OP because they went with the implant.

If it happens like the last two times, she'll lay two eggs and stop

Youre lucky if she stops after 2. My girl will just keep laying one after the other, sometimes with a pause of up to a few days.Thats when the worrying really starts.

Also the first egg seems to be very huge for her

Not too long ago (between Lupron injections) she laid an egg that was a little bit bigger than normal. She has also laid a little tiny egg in the past.

Other than the Lupron advice all i can say is make sure you provide plenty of calcium.

 

[Rebel]

Currently trying to find a good option for a fake egg

You can buy dummy eggs on amazon etc.

 

[Finchbreed]

Dummy eggs can be made out of plaster of paris.
Birds like people run on a cycle - theirs is annual or biannual.
Please consider your birds as you would your daughters - don't stuff them full of unnatural hormone suppressents - just let nature take it's course, this will pass more quickly and cause less trauma to your girls. Fake eggs to let them live closer to what nature intended is kinder.

 

[Rebel]

Dummy eggs can be made out of plaster of paris.
Birds like people run on a cycle - theirs is annual or biannual.
Please consider your birds as you would your daughters - don't stuff them full of unnatural hormone suppressents - just let nature take it's course, this will pass more quickly and cause less trauma to your girls. Fake eggs to let them live closer to what nature intended is kinder.

Apparently you’ve never had a chronic egg layer. They have no cycle , no rhythm, no rhythm.
Its quite insulting that you would suggest that we dont already treat our girls as if they were our daughters. We go to great lengths and expense to avoid catastrophe.

 

[Finchbreed]

I assure you I did not intend to be insulting.
I was giving advise based on my experiences over many years - and you are right - I have not had a cronic egg layer - just birds that go through natural cycles.
The advice given is correct based on normal cycles.

 

[Zara]

Dummy eggs can be made out of plaster of paris.

I fear that if I made dummys out of plaster or paris, my youngest would peck at them and destroy them. Not sure how well a cockatiel would fare with it...

Best to get the plastic solid ones. I did put together a thread about dummy eggs, however it has been a while so I will have to go back when I have time and check the links still work;

Dummy eggs / Fake eggs

What is a dummy egg? Dummy eggs are fake eggs, made to look identical to a real egg, same size, shape and weight. They are used for two very different reasons; for breeding and also to prevent breeding. They are also used to help chronic egg laying (commonly cockatiels) by giving the hen a full...

forums.avianavenue.com

They have no cycle , no rhythm, no rhythm.

Definitely agree. With cockatiels and lovebirds that lay heavily, there's no rhythm or "cycle" (like season), they just come and stop in waves. Expecially for me where I live in tropical climate, my birds have access to foods and shelter 365 days a year meaning perfect breeding conditions year round.

Please consider your birds as you would your daughters - don't stuff them full of unnatural hormone suppressents

I have not had a cronic egg layer

It is worth keeping in mind, that yes as much as these treatments are incredibly unnatural, so is keeping birds in our homes as pets. And these treatments and therapies have saved the lives of birds who may have succumb to egg laying complications, either nutrition depletion, prolapse or egg binding.
It is an awful thing to have to deal with. I am glad my time of egg problems is behind me, I would not wish it upon any bird or their owner. So incredibly stressful and worrying.

 

[Finchbreed]

Maybe the difference is that all my experience is in the country of their origin Australia - and living in flock situations in outdoor avairies.
The adjustment to indoor pet life - could be the cause of this?
Appreciate your insight Zara

 

[Zara]

could be the cause of this?

I would think so. That all of these unnatural things we do outside of their origin countries (keeping them in those countries, in homes, with abundance of food, light, shelter) would all factor in to their lives.
Birds want to breed when the conditions are right, as companion animals, we provide it all to them on a silver platter.
I was once suggested to ration food to knock a hen off her egg laying cycle, but I felt so cruel doing it that I never tried. It makes sense to me, I just wasn't able to do it.