So we've done everything to try to stop Bitty and Taro from breeding, aside from separating them, which I really don't want to do cause they have no other bird friends and I simply can't afford to add another couple birds to my family and risk just even more of this chaos!! We've limited daylight, taken everything nest-like out of their cage, kept diet consistent, everything. But they still, every couple months, go to nest.
During this most recent round, Bitty has decided that her "nest" is one of her perches that I have a preening toy (basically just a bunch of felt strips) near. She's just stuffing her face into it so she thinks she's in a nest, then laying her eggs which, obviously, fall to the bottom of the cage and break. I still replace them with dummy eggs so she won't keep trying until they "don't break" lol.
My concern is, is this cruel? Can a bird get depressed if they have eggs like 3 times a year and they never hatch?
EDIT: Actually, the perch and preening toy in question are what they are sitting on in my profile picture. Taro is tucked under the toy in that pic. If anyone needs a frame of reference as to what Bitty will consider a "nest" in her desperation.
During this most recent round, Bitty has decided that her "nest" is one of her perches that I have a preening toy (basically just a bunch of felt strips) near. She's just stuffing her face into it so she thinks she's in a nest, then laying her eggs which, obviously, fall to the bottom of the cage and break. I still replace them with dummy eggs so she won't keep trying until they "don't break" lol.
My concern is, is this cruel? Can a bird get depressed if they have eggs like 3 times a year and they never hatch?
EDIT: Actually, the perch and preening toy in question are what they are sitting on in my profile picture. Taro is tucked under the toy in that pic. If anyone needs a frame of reference as to what Bitty will consider a "nest" in her desperation.