Egg layin

[jonnie]

My 16 yr old grey is Startin to lay eggs.. should I do something special for her... so far she has laid 2, I have removed them...she is alone, no mate...

 

[TiktokParrot]

Hi there,

My sincere apologies for the delayed response; I was busy traveling abroad and am just catching up now.

Thank you for asking such an important question about your 16-year-old African Grey. It can be surprising and worrying when a single female bird starts laying eggs, but it's a relatively common occurrence. You've come to the right place for advice. Here are the most important things you need to know and do to keep her safe and healthy.

First, and Most Importantly: Do NOT Remove the Eggs Immediatel​

I know it seems like the logical thing to do, but removing the eggs as soon as she lays them can actually encourage her body to produce more eggs to replace the "missing" ones. This is called "double-clutching." Laying eggs is incredibly demanding on a bird's body, and laying multiple clutches can lead to serious health problems.

What to do instead:Allow her to accumulate a "clutch" of eggs (usually 2-5). Let her sit on them for about 10-14 days. Usually, after this period, her hormonal drive will decrease, and she will lose interest and abandon the nest. Once she has clearly lost interest, you can safely remove all the eggs at once.

Pro-Tip: Many owners purchase dummy eggs (fake plastic eggs) online. You can swap her real eggs for the fake ones. This prevents the real eggs from accidentally breaking and making a mess, and you can reuse the dummy eggs if this happens again in the future.

Health and Nutrition are Critical​

Egg-laying depletes a bird's calcium reserves at an alarming rate. This can lead to a life-threatening condition called egg binding, where she is unable to pass an egg.

• Boost Her Calcium: Ensure she has constant access to a calcium source. A cuttlebone or mineral block is good. You can also scrape the cuttlebone over her fresh vegetables. For a bird that is actively laying, it is highly recommended to supplement with liquid calcium in her water (follow the product directions carefully).
• Provide a Top-Quality Diet: This is not the time for a seed-only diet. Make sure she is on a high-quality pelleted diet, supplemented with fresh, dark leafy greens (like kale and broccoli) and other vegetables rich in calcium.
• Watch for Signs of Egg Binding: This is an emergency. If you see any of these signs, she needs to see an avian vet immediately:
  
  
  • Sitting at the bottom of the cage
  • Lethargy and fluffed-up feathers
  • Straining or pushing, sometimes with a bobbing tail
  • Difficulty breathing
  • A noticeable lump near her vent area

How to Discourage Future Egg-Laying​

The goal is to reduce the hormonal triggers in her environment that are telling her body it's time to breed.

1. Limit Daylight: Ensure she gets 10-12 hours of uninterrupted, complete darkness and quiet for sleep each night. Longer daylight hours mimic the springtime breeding season. Covering her cage is a great way to do this.
2. Remove Nesting Spots: She is likely seeing something in her environment as a potential nest. This could be a happy hut, a fabric tent, a cardboard box, or even a dark corner behind furniture. Remove any of these potential nesting sites.
3. Change Petting Habits: Only pet or scratch your Grey on her head and neck. Petting her on her back, wings, or near her tail is a form of courtship and can be a major hormonal trigger.
4. Rearrange the Cage: Sometimes, simply rearranging the toys and perches inside her cage can disrupt her "nesting" mindset and break the cycle.
5. Limit Mushy/Warm Foods: These foods can simulate the act of a parent bird regurgitating food for a mate or for chicks. Limit access to things like oatmeal, mashed potatoes, or soupy foods while she is in this hormonal state.

It's a lot to take in, but you are doing the right thing by being proactive. For now, let her keep any new eggs she lays, boost her calcium intake, and start making those environmental changes to prevent it from happening again.

Wishing you and your feathered companion all the best! And looking forward to hear from you, welcome to the forum.

My 16 yr old grey is Startin to lay eggs.. should I do something special for her... so far she has laid 2, I have removed them...she is alone, no mate...