Single female Alexandrine and egg laying

[yramnot]

I have a female Alexandrine parakeet that is due to turn two this month. She hasn't yet produced any eggs, but my father and I are confused about what to do in the event that she does lay some eggs. My father has a friend who has raised parrots for 40 years, but his advice contradicts the literature I've read on every level, so I was wondering if someone could offer their own advice regarding Alexandrines and egg laying.

The literature that I have read advises to provide Birdy with a nestbox, boil the eggs, and allow her to sit on them for as long as she likes. When she loses interest, remove the eggs and box. The literature specifies NOT to remove the eggs immediately or by force, because this may cause her to continue laying.

Now, my father's friend has an entirely different take. He told us that we should make no special preparations for her, even if she is showing signs indicating that the laying of an egg is imminent. He told us that we should hope she lays her egg while standing on a perch, so the egg will fall to the cage floor and break. He says that the less time Birdy spends with her egg, the better, using the logic that if she is allowed to spend time with it she will bond with it. Therefore, removing the egg will send her into a depression and cause her to pull her feathers.

My father and I actually got into a fight over this because I have never heard anywhere of what his friend had described. So, guys, what's the deal? Does my father's friend know what he's talking about? We're both so confused. We need some advise. In the event of Birdy ever showing signs of laying an egg, what the heck are we supposed to do?!

 

[Ratzy]

Your friend is RIGHT.

 

[yramnot]

Could I get some sources backing it up? I'm curious.

 

[Ratzy]

You give her a nest box, you are ENCOURAGING her to lay eggs. Laying eggs is actually taking valuable minerals and calciums away from the hens bones and organs. Too many eggs, without a break or added calcium, WILL = death. If she shows any signs of laying eggs, remove any are laid, change the cage environment around, decrease daylight and remove any possible nesting places ( boxes, nest boxes, snuggle huts etc.).
PS. What is the point of boiling the eggs when they won't be fertile?

 

[yramnot]

The point of boiling them is so they will not rot. Also, I asked for sources. You have presented none. However, I could present several advising that you DO leave the eggs with the bird because removing them immediately will encourage more laying. Prove your stance please. If it is correct, okay. That's fine, it's one less thing to spend money on. But prove it.

 

[Spiritbird]

If you search the web and read books such as Parrots for Dummies you will find that giving a nest box or other such nesting material does encourage a female bird that is sexually mature to lay eggs. It is best not to encourage egg laying unless you are breeding. One of the better ways to avoid egg laying is to increase the hours of darkness your bird is sleeping because the cycle is controlled by the hours of light.

 

[Von1983]

A quick search on "chronic egg laying" (I wrote this in for ease to find the information required) threw up many sources all giving the same advice as Ratzy and SB.

This is the 5th one I hit. Good as any as they all say the same thing.
Chronic Egg Laying Solutions For Your Bird

If you ask for advice then anyone will gladly help you here but what you have written in reply to Ratzy seems overly defensive and challenging.

We're trying to give you help which is what you asked for, not attack you in any way, so please bear that in mind. Ratzy is very intelligent and well read on the subject of birds. The fact that she is only 12 is astounding. Maybe a "thankyou" is in order?

 

[yramnot]

With all due respect, I'm not being challenging or defensive. I'm being critical. Despite searching high and low, I have not been able to find a complete answer to my question, which I'm hoping you guys can help me find. However, I do not blindly accept a stranger's word on something this important without proof. It's nothing personal against Ratzy. I'm sure she's a very smart girl, but I don't know her from Adam. It's perfectly reasonable to expect some proof in this situation when no one else up until this point has been able to. Which I'm glad for, by the way. Thank you. It's a start.

Not providing a nestbox is well and good, then. So... if she does lay an egg, what do I do with it? My dad's friend says to remove it immediately because leaving it too long has psychological consequences that may lead to self-mutilation, but my understanding is that removing it will encourage her to lay even more eggs. In fact, from what I understand, it's a common practice in production-style parrot breeding operations in order to milk out more eggs. So, do I remove it immediately or leave it until she loses interest?

 

[Von1983]

I can't fathom why you asked us for advice then, if I'm honest, but I'm too placid to argue the toss.

I can't provide all the answers you are looking for, but I think there are some tips mentioned in the article I posted as well as all the other articles "chronic egg laying" in google search throws up.

Good luck.

 

[Pheonix Rising]

I think the thing is not to provide them with a box even if she does start to lay eggs as this only stimulates her to lay more

I personaly would have agreed with you as to boiling them and then removing after several weeks ( usually a week short of what would be known as hatch time )
Im not sure exactly where you should put the eggs but I guess just on the cage bottom or such. So long as she thinks the clutch was unsucessful she should not lay again until next season
a big change around of branches, toys etc etc is esential changing things around once a week (at all times of year ) will create a slight unease that should put her off laying
( normally they only lay in a secure unchanged environent ) also the extra stimulation that's provided by the cage being changed about will help keep her mind busy with things other than laying

This is just my opinion and is what was told to me via my breeder
I guess just do what you feel is correct but please dont come to this site to be disresectful of those offering their advice as it is not appreciated by any of us

 

[greycloud]

Here is my advice, I have 30 yrs experience with birds and bred birds for over 15 yrs. The info you find online comes from people just like me.
Do not provide your bird with nesting materials or opportunities. If your bird shows nesting behavior with any toy or object or area, remove that object or remove the bird from the opportunity to access the area. Shorten daylight areas to this bird. Stop serving warm fresh foods during these times.
If your bird lays an egg, remove the egg, boil gently for 4-5 mins, cool and return to the hen. Let the bird sit the egg for 28-30 days, wherever she has laid it. Do not provide a soft area for her after she has already laid. The hen may lay several eggs or just 1. At the end of this time, remove the eggs and make sure you definitely shorten daylight hours. Extended sunlight hours triggers parrots internal clock and inspires breeding behavior.
If you take the egg prior to normal time of hatch, the hen will lay again in order to propagate her species. Hope this helps.
*EDIT:Here is link from Avian Web, a top information site, providing info on chronic egg laying in birds. I found it after my post. As you can see, years of experience speaks well for its self. http://www.avianweb.com/egglaying.html

 

[Ratzy]

It depends on the parrot whether you remove it or not. For example:
Marigold has laid a few eggs previously and I always take them away as soon as possible. She usually doesn't lay any more after that. Over defensive or broody hens that pay a lot of attention to the egg/s you wouldn't remove it.
EDIT: Sorry, just saw that that person is now banned