Female rescue laid an egg

[MitzMN]

I am an owner of two Eclectus parrots, both around 15 or 16 years old. I got Winston as a baby and I adopted Ruby 1-3/4 years ago. They do live in the same room but do not interact. Ruby has in the past displayed to Winston, but he was a bachelor bird for so long, he's utterly clueless.

Well, on Sunday, I was hand vacuuming the bird room and I discovered that Ruby evidently laid an egg that hit the floor and broke. My knowledge of Eclectus is that she should have another egg, and I think it's 3 days between eggs -- right? She seems okay, although she is sitting in the bottom of her cage most of the time, but she's moving around, too, leaving the cage, talking, eating, etc.

Since I've never had a hen before, I believe I could surmise if she were in distress, but of course I'm mildly worried about egg binding. Since she's a rescue, I'm unsure if she's laid eggs in the past or if this is her first eggs ever.

I got a gander at her vent and it looks enlarged and a bit swollen. It seemed to be pulsating, much like I would imagine labor for a human (I've never had a baby myself). Because she's so completely normal, I'm not panicking yet, but recognize how dire an egg bound hen's health can become quickly.

So what can you tell me about what to expect. (She just wolf whistled -- again, very normal behavior.)

Thanks, everyone.

 

[WilliamKenyon]

Often with eclectus if the egg is not fertile they will bury them and i they are in the cage just put them on the floor rather than the egg just falling. She may be hormonal at the moment so it would be a good idea to only pet her on the head for a while so that she does not feel like you are her mate. If she continues to lay eggs you could give her some cuttle bone or calcium water treatment so that she doesn't egg bind. Other than that there is not much you can do. Good luck with your birds.

 

[MitzMN]

Thanks, William.

I never pet her, actually. She'd take off a finger or two if she could. I only pick her up with an oven mitt on -- an industrial strength oven mitt.

I have been giving her some baked and crushed up egg shell. Calcium water might be another good idea.

I wish I knew her history and I wish I had at least a little bit of history with hens laying eggs. But I also hope this won't become a habit for her. I figured after nearly two years, she was not a layer. Guess she fooled me.