When your "boy" lays an egg.....

[Scott]

My jaw dropped to the floor when changing Gabby's water today.... a first ever egg greeted me at bottom of cage grate!

Background: Gabby is a Goffins born in my home 24 years ago and hand-fed from 3 days when parents abandoned. Eye color is coal-black, so assumed "he" followed the general rule of dark = male, light brown = female. Accurate for my two known female cockatoos!

Egg was large with faint whispy blood streaks. Vent remains greater in circumference than normal but not grossly distended. She appeared lethargic for a short time then bounced back to play a bit and eat. Belly appears completely typical. I've had many females paired with males over the years with several clutches, however they have been in nest boxes so the physicality was not observed. Gabby is the first bird who has laid an egg in solitary, so I am wondering if this is normal. On the lookout for more eggs and hope the vent returns to normal by morning. She otherwise looks/acts as usual 2 hours later.

 

[Laurasea]

Wowie! What a surprise!
Hope she lays the rest with no problems.

 

[wrench13]

LOL , talk to Jim, Amy's dad, who had 'her' for almost 30 years, only to find out its really Amos. Glad she is ok though.

 

[chris-md]

Jeez Scott. Musta given you a heart attack!

I don’t think I understand your question though, not hat I’m in any position to answer any such questions. But as I read it your asking if females can lay absent a male, which we are ALL know to be a common issue. Perhaps a clarification May be in order? Are asking about the physical suite of symptoms (disorientation, distended vent, etc?)

 

[LaManuka]

Oh. My. Good. Gravy!!! Here’s me worried about Lilly’s suspicious looking undercarriage and it’s Gabby’s rear end that’s causing all the trouble! I’m in shock!!

So was there no nesty broody type behaviour leading up to this? At least Lilly gives me plenty of warning when she’s got one in the chamber. You may get lucky and this just be a one-off but Gabby may well have anotheree on the way for you in the next few days, you lucky thing!

Jeez after 24 years you’d think you’d be in the clear. Hope Gabby isn’t cooking up any more surprises for you!

 

[Rozalka]

I know you love G2's but I never would be so sure about their gender witout DNA test
I didn't have a situation as suprising as your but when I bought Fela and Rozalka (Bourkes), I was informed they are male and female. Rozalka always had grey head, so 100% female. Fela had more pink head so we thought she is male. Few months later she had more grey feathers on her head and her behaviour started being more female-like. She didn't lay an egg then but when we were sure she is female, we bought a real male. In this way "male" laid eggs and had babies


Each female is able to lay eggs solitary, especially non-American species but I hope Gabby isn't going to lay more...

 

[Tami2]

Oh wow, Scott! That is quite the surprise, especially since you thought Gabby was a he. Is it possible it could be fertile? Is there a way of finding out this early?

Good luck and I hope she's okay. :heart:

 

[Scott]

Jeez Scott. Musta given you a heart attack!

I don’t think I understand your question though, not hat I’m in any position to answer any such questions. But as I read it your asking if females can lay absent a male, which we are ALL know to be a common issue. Perhaps a clarification May be in order? Are asking about the physical suite of symptoms (disorientation, distended vent, etc?)

Thanks Chris! Definitely a clarification is in order!! Primary question is how long until the vent returns to normal size after laying. I'd imagine the massive stretching takes time to relax. All of my other females have laid in a next box, so was not able to observe the process. This morning it has contracted about 30% from immediate post-laying. Does not appear prolapsed, just enlarged. Defecation is absolutely normal.

 

[SailBoat]

Congratulations Scott!
Old tales of what defines a female, or a male, clearly have limitations, as your 'Girl' has just proven.
May it be her only one...

FYI: Our New World Girls are just as likely to provide an egg as the rest of the World's ladies... Such events have been the foundation for confirmation of one's Parrot's sex over eons.

 

[Terry57]

What a shock after all these years, Scott! I hope Gabby gets through laying any other eggs with no issues, egg laying is so scary.
I wonder why she laid one now after all this time?

 

[Scott]

What a shock after all these years, Scott! I hope Gabby gets through laying any other eggs with no issues, egg laying is so scary.
I wonder why she laid one now after all this time?

Hard to understand, absolutely nothing in her environment has changed that I perceive. Same diet, routine, climate conditions, etc!

 

[GaleriaGila]

Just in time for Valentine's Day!!!!

Congratulations, good luck, and... great expectations?

A milestone in the "Just When You Think You've Seen It All" Department...

 

[LaManuka]

After 24 years you think you know a guy ... erm ... girl!

At least you don’t feel like you have to change her name, very prescient of you to have named her “Gabby”

 

[Scott]

Just in time for Valentine's Day!!!!

Congratulations, good luck, and... great expectations?

A milestone in the "Just When You Think You've Seen It All" Department...

After 24 years you think you know a guy ... erm ... girl!

At least you don’t feel like you have to change her name, very prescient of you to have named her “Gabby”

My eggxpectations are no more eggs!

Interestingly, Gabby was named after a friend who performed in bird shows at a local zoo.

 

[Noahs_Birds]

Mind need to take back any 'Male to Male' conversations you had with her, I bet she has given you a few funny looks.....
Thanks
Noah Till

 

[Scott]

Mind need to take back any 'Male to Male' conversations you had with her, I bet she has given you a few funny looks.....
Thanks
Noah Till

Hahahaha! Like our birds-and-bees convo years ago!

 

[Inger]

What a shock after all these years, Scott! I hope Gabby gets through laying any other eggs with no issues, egg laying is so scary.
I wonder why she laid one now after all this time?

Hard to understand, absolutely nothing in her environment has changed that I perceive. Same diet, routine, climate conditions, etc!

Except you've retired recently?? You're home more often - maybe she sees that you could be a better father now.

 

[Scott]

What a shock after all these years, Scott! I hope Gabby gets through laying any other eggs with no issues, egg laying is so scary.
I wonder why she laid one now after all this time?

Hard to understand, absolutely nothing in her environment has changed that I perceive. Same diet, routine, climate conditions, etc!

Except you've retired recently?? You're home more often - maybe she sees that you could be a better father now.

Hmmm, good point! She was one of the more clingy birds during the weekly ritual of saying goodbye. I eventually learned to do the formality before dressing in uniform!