Not sure if she is with eggs or ?

[peachesANDslugger]

I have 2 Pineapple green cheeked conure's, a male and a female, 8 months old. We play everyday, morning and evening after dinner. Today I noticed she didn't want to play, she is puffed up and lethargic acting, and hanging upside down around their avian light which is about 5 inches above their cage. She is very outgoing and playful, last night she and her mate were regurgitating for each other. I've been trying to read everything on mating behavior and sexual maturity, and found different things. I did call our avian vet, and she seem to think maybe she is with eggs and haven't laid them yet, nesting, that they could be early bloomers. The temperature is 75 in their room, so it can't be she's cold. She is also just lying in her cozy when she isn't hanging from the top of her cage. The vet seem to think we should watch her for a few days because she is still eating. Does anyone have any ideas on what this behavior is, i'm wprried even tho our vet isn't. Here is a picture of her. They are molting and have been for a month or so now.

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[JerseyWendy]

If I'm not mistaken, GCCs (including Pineapples) don't sexually mature until they are at LEAST 1 year. Of course there can always be exceptions to the rule, however, reading your description of your female, she isn't feeling well.

Being ruffled up, lethargic, and actively seeking warmth is a sure tell sign that something is off.

 

[Aquila]

Hens will usually pluck their belly area when they're ready to nest. My GCC did that and when she was laying it was very obvious that she had an egg ready. She didn't start laying until she was about 8 years old, and had no male present. I would definitely bring your GCC to see the vet because those are more signs of distress.

For reference, here's the size of my GCC's eggs. I would ask her "Do you have eggy belly? That looks like eggy belly!" when I'd see the bump.

 

[peachesANDslugger]

Hens will usually pluck their belly area when they're ready to nest. My GCC did that and when she was laying it was very obvious that she had an egg ready. She didn't start laying until she was about 8 years old, and had no male present. I would definitely bring your GCC to see the vet because those are more signs of distress.

For reference, here's the size of my GCC's eggs. I would ask her "Do you have eggy belly? That looks like eggy belly!" when I'd see the bump.

I finally got a hold of another avian vet, who said that she maybe isn't well, but if she's eating and drinking we could bring her in the morning. Thats what were going to do. She also said she is too young to be sexual mature, and didnt think she is with eggs. We'll see in the morning. Thank you for your thoughts, greatly appreciated

 

[peachesANDslugger]

If I'm not mistaken, GCCs (including Pineapples) don't sexually mature until they are at LEAST 1 year. Of course there can always be exceptions to the rule, however, reading your description of your female, she isn't feeling well.

Being ruffled up, lethargic, and actively seeking warmth is a sure tell sign that something is off.

Thank you for thoughts, it's greatly appreciated, i spoke with another vet who thinks she may not be feeling well, but she is still eating and drinking so were going to take her into the vet in the morning.

 

[peachesANDslugger]

A trip to an avian vet, with our Peaches, she had 0 calcium, and was dehydrated, so the vet gave our baby fluids, a calcium shot and supplement. A vitamin B shot as well. Bottom line our Peaches is got an egg inside her. Our pineapple green cheeked conure's are 8 months old, and the vet said their are some early bloomers and we got the early bloomer. We have to give her calcium supplement 2 times a day, egg shells, and 1/4 piece of tums crushed over her food along with harrison's high potency pellets. Thank God we still have to encourage her to lay the egg, push it down. We bought her a nest box. Thank you everyone for the advice

 

[peachesANDslugger]

A trip to an avian vet, with our Peaches, she had 0 calcium, and was dehydrated, so the vet gave our baby fluids, a calcium shot and supplement. A vitamin B shot as well. Bottom line our Peaches is got an egg inside her. Our pineapple green cheeked conure's are 8 months old, and the vet said their are some early bloomers and we got the early bloomer. We have to give her calcium supplement 2 times a day, egg shells, and 1/4 piece of tums crushed over her food along with harrison's high potency pellets. Thank God we still have to encourage her to lay the egg, push it down. We bought her a nest box. Thank you everyone for the advice

A picture of her egg.

 

[MonicaMc]

I've heard of green cheek conures breeding as early as 5 months old.... not recommended.

The light might be too close to the cage if it's giving off heat.


Providing a nest box doesn't encourage the hen to lay an egg... it only encourages her to breed and reproduce. Are you prepared to allow the pair to breed and reproduce? Can you hand feed the chicks if necessary or desired?


If she's sick or not at the top of her health (and from the sounds of it, she's not), then encouraging her to breed by providing a nest box is the last thing you want to do.

 

[henpecked]

That's a first for me. Never heard of conjure laying that young. Have you read up on egg binding?

 

[peachesANDslugger]

I've heard of green cheek conures breeding as early as 5 months old.... not recommended.

The light might be too close to the cage if it's giving off heat.


Providing a nest box doesn't encourage the hen to lay an egg... it only encourages her to breed and reproduce. Are you prepared to allow the pair to breed and reproduce? Can you hand feed the chicks if necessary or desired?


If she's sick or not at the top of her health (and from the sounds of it, she's not), then encouraging her to breed by providing a nest box is the last thing you want to do.

We have the avian light about 20 inches above the cage, so there isn't any heat, and we got the nest box because the avian vet said to because she already has an egg, and she thought this would encourage her to push it down and out. We wasn't trying to breed her.

 

[peachesANDslugger]

That's a first for me. Never heard of conjure laying that young. Have you read up on egg binding?

Yes, and our avian vet has also instructed us on what to look for.

 

[peachesANDslugger]

I've heard of green cheek conures breeding as early as 5 months old.... not recommended.

The light might be too close to the cage if it's giving off heat.


Providing a nest box doesn't encourage the hen to lay an egg... it only encourages her to breed and reproduce. Are you prepared to allow the pair to breed and reproduce? Can you hand feed the chicks if necessary or desired?


If she's sick or not at the top of her health (and from the sounds of it, she's not), then encouraging her to breed by providing a nest box is the last thing you want to do.

We have the avian light about 20 inches above the cage, so there isn't any heat, and we got the nest box because the avian vet said to because she already has an egg, and she thought this would encourage her to push it down and out. We wasn't trying to breed her.

I did buy some books on breeding and how to discourage it for now, a couple of weeks ago, because I knew we were close, just not this close. We didn't get a pair to breed, but these two were already bonded and we didn't want to separate them. Found out later they were a girl and a boy. I had thought that before we were to let them breed i was going to volunteer my time to parrot mountain and learn all i can, before hand.

 

[MonicaMc]

Odd.... I never did hear of an avian vet recommending to provide a nest box to a hen to encourage them to lay an egg...


Females will lay eggs regardless of having a nest to lay them in! I have female birds who have done just that without a nest provided!

 

[peachesANDslugger]

Odd.... I never did hear of an avian vet recommending to provide a nest box to a hen to encourage them to lay an egg...


Females will lay eggs regardless of having a nest to lay them in! I have female birds who have done just that without a nest provided!

It's because she already has a egg inside her that we need her to push out. Look at the right side of her xray and you can see the egg, she just needs to push it out, it's taking all her calcium. I'm just following the avian vets instructions

 

[peachesANDslugger]

Odd.... I never did hear of an avian vet recommending to provide a nest box to a hen to encourage them to lay an egg...


Females will lay eggs regardless of having a nest to lay them in! I have female birds who have done just that without a nest provided!

It's because she already has a egg inside her that we need her to push out. Look at the right side of her xray and you can see the egg, she just needs to push it out, it's taking all her calcium. I'm just following the avian vets instructions

We are too remove it as soon as she is done

 

[MonicaMc]

Yes, I saw the X-ray... and like I said, hens *do not* need a nest in order to lay eggs. It's even possible for hens to have more than one egg inside them at a time, although uncommon/rare when this occurs. If you are following your vets advice, then I'm not saying to remove the nest, just simply stating a fact.


If the egg ends up being too large for her to lay, then she may need to have it surgically removed. Keep an eye on her and make sure she is still able to poop just fine.

 

[peachesANDslugger]

Yes, I saw the X-ray... and like I said, hens *do not* need a nest in order to lay eggs. It's even possible for hens to have more than one egg inside them at a time, although uncommon/rare when this occurs. If you are following your vets advice, then I'm not saying to remove the nest, just simply stating a fact.


If the egg ends up being too large for her to lay, then she may need to have it surgically removed. Keep an eye on her and make sure she is still able to poop just fine.

Yes, I've been watching her like a hawk. Hoping this goes smoothly

 

[peachesANDslugger]

Yes, I saw the X-ray... and like I said, hens *do not* need a nest in order to lay eggs. It's even possible for hens to have more than one egg inside them at a time, although uncommon/rare when this occurs. If you are following your vets advice, then I'm not saying to remove the nest, just simply stating a fact.


If the egg ends up being too large for her to lay, then she may need to have it surgically removed. Keep an eye on her and make sure she is still able to poop just fine.

Yes, I've been watching her like a hawk. Hoping this goes smoothly

Thank you very much

 

[Flboy]

My heart goes out to you, I would be terrified!

 

[peachesANDslugger]

My heart goes out to you, I would be terrified!

I am terrified, and her light little chirps, she has been doing most of the day is tearing me apart. I'm constantly checking on her every moment, and praying alot.