Worried about our egg laying Eclectus

[jfish930]

Hello Everyone
I am hoping that someone can give us some guidance.
Our 3 and a 1/2 yr old eclectus laid her first egg on thursday--it was laying broken on the grid at the bottom of her cage; she must have laid it from her perch above. Monday she laid another egg-this time on top of her cage on the playtop, underneath some sheets of newspaper we keep up there to keep the top clean. She will not leave her egg. There are several problems we are having:
1) When we go to bed at night or leave the house we take her from the playtop and put her in her cage. Last night we left her out when we went to bed since she doesnt want to leave the egg
2) For the last month or two she has been trying to mate with me ( I'm male) and we would like to curttail this behavior. We figured by letting her keep the egg this may stop the mating behaviors.
3) we tried to make her a "nest" and put it in her cage ( we used a shoebox open at one end and put some shredded paper in there) but she wants nothing to do with it--we assume because this is not the nest she "chose".
4) she has not left the egg to drink, eat or poop. we have given her some hard boiled egg and some seeds while she sits on her egg

What else can we do now? I called the avian vet and the nurse there said try to find a "fake" egg but we cant find one anywhere. And we cannot leave her out when we leave the house. Also, we do not want her to continue to lay eggs as this is not good for her? and we want to stop her trying to mate with me
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Spiritbird]

Ping pong balls can be used. The breeding cycle is conrolled by the amount of light. I suggest if you cover the cage at 8 pm then do at 7 pm instead. Increase the calcium in her diet if you can. Please be sure her sleep room is quiet and dark. No music, voices or TV on.

Here is a forum devoted to your bird species http://eclectusparrots.net/forum/index.php?/topic/1296-my-female-has-laid-unfertilized-eggs/

 

[Pedro]

Hi jfish, Give all her food & water on top of the cage if you can. They do usually come off their eggs for a few minutes through the day. The male normally feeds the hen but as you have no male she will/should feed herself. If she isn't eating at all i would take the egg away from her. You don't want her getting sick. Remove any paper or little nook or cranny where she may make a new nest site. Normally i would suggest she sit on her egg for 28 days but if she is not leaving it to eat & drink her health could be compromised.

You mentioned her wanting to mate with you, what measures do you take to avoid this behavior? You will have to be careful how you pet her, Only her head should be stroked, don't stroke her down the back or under the wings that only stimulates her. As soon as she starts to get snuggly it would be a good idea to stop handling her & put on a playstand/cage. The same thing applies with the males when they get hormonal. Don't pet below the neck & as soon as any sign of mating behavior put the bird down & walk away. It really isn't a good idea to encourage mating behavior.

I have also been reading that we feed our companion Eclectus to well. More to the point they are being kept in breeding condition all year around. I believe they should be kept on a maintanence diet. As long as there is abundance of food the hens will lay.

As mentioned by Spiritbird putting her to bed early is also a good idea. All my birds are in bed when the sun is going down & i uncover them at about 8am in the morning. But i do realize you have work commitments. Once my companion parrots mature i handle them differently, no more cuddles unless it's a quick one & a kiss on the beak. I have trained my Cockatoo to stay on his play stand rather than be all over me. So now he is just as happy being in our company.

I hope this is of help.

 

[jfish930]

Thank you both for your help Spiritbird and Pedro! I was told by my local "bird guy" to not pet her below the neck, but even touching her head causes her to want to mate--this seems to have lessened since she had the egg though and she just wants to sit on it and is less interested in me

As for not touching her at all which you suggested Pedro--I am disappointed to read that you recommend that for a maturing bird. We did not get a pet parrot to end up not interacting with her--I should also let you know that she is not a "needy" bird at all--even though we bond with her she is content to sit on her perch alone as well.
I think I am going to try to leave her be with her egg and see what she does--if not, I am afraid the she will continue to lay them. Since I posted this she has pooped, and may have eaten or drank--we are not sure because we went out. She will eat if I put food where she is nesting--right in front of her--and I hate to do that because then it seems as if I am the male feeding her--and the cycle continues--but I am going to just do this today since she laid the egg yesterday and is probably deprived of nutrients. I gave her a small piece of hard boiled egg with shell on it that she ate, and now I am going to give her some dandelion greens, kale and pomegranate. If anyone has more advice that would be great! Thanks again!
Joel

 

[Pedro]

Sorry Joel, I didn't make myself clear i didn't mean not handle at all. You have been given the right infomation by your breeder. I only made that point because some eclectus owners treat their birds like cats & will sit in front of the TV stroking their bird because the bird likes it. I didn't mean not touch her at all but you have let me know what i really wanted to know. LOL. And that's how you handle her. Having bred & worked with Eclectus for many years now I find their behavior most challenging.

I am afraid with your girl she has clearly bonded with you & i think the eggs will keep coming. This is one of the problems we face when we own hens. She is obviously very happy in her home. Joel i don't think your going to stop your girl from laying now. Each time she will lay 2 sometimes 3 eggs. I think the main thing to watch is that she doesn't turn into a chronic egg layer. In your country do eclectus have a breeding season or can they lay all year.

Yes if she is eating leave her with her egg for the 28 days or until she destroys it herself. Eccies know when the eggs are infertile & will destroy or eat the eggs after the due date. Normally when conditions are right hens will get all nesty again & will lay every 4 months approx but with your girl it's possible she will lay again 4 weeks after her egg is removed. If they have a failed nest they will go back & lay again.

The only way i can stop my eclectus from breeding is to take the nest box away otherwise they breed all year round. So if i take the babies for hand-rearing i get 5 clutches a year.

Joel just keep feeding her as usual she will know what to do herself. Leave a supply of calcium for her to eat, she will only take what she needs.

I am really sorry if i upset you with my comments. Of course i handle my companion parrots i just don't encourage mating behavior with me. I think you misunderstood my comments a little. I have a great relationship with my birds & we also have a lot of fun.

 

[jfish930]

Pedro,
Please-no need to apologize--I think the words I used came out sounding a bit strong--I really do appreciate your advice! And now that I re-read your post I realize what you were attempting to tell me but I replied too quickly I guess.
I tend to make big deals out of small things, but I must say that this whole "egg-laying thing" has been a bummer. She was a perfect bird for 3 and a 1/2 years--and of course I realize she is just doing what comes natural for her. But, the fact that she is expecting a baby bird to appear, and it won't, and that it is also possible that she is confused too--these things make me feel bad for her, and also feel upset that we have a bird in captivity. However, we will make the best of it.
I am hoping that she is not a chronic egg layer and hopefullly she will just do this a couple of times a year. I do not know if where we live (Pennsylvania) will have any bearing if this is a seasonal issue or not.
I really wish my "bird guy" would have warned me ahead of time that females lay eggs--we had originally wanted a male, but we bonded with our Sophie. And I guess there's pros and cons--I have read the males regurgitate their food on the people they love and also they tend to do some other unmentionable things very often
As for now--we removed the "nest" on top of her cage and we made one inside her cage, that way she can still be on the nest when we leave the house and she will be safe. I must confess, that she does not get to "bed" early as her cage is in the living room . We did that since we first bought her so that she would be around people. We really do not have room to put her elsewhere at night-so I am not sure how to handle this situation. Her cage in the living room is rather large so that she has plenty of room. I guess we could always get a small second cage and put it in a room that isn't utlilized often, but to clean 2 cages every week seems like a lot of work. Do you really think this is necessary when all she knows is her current schedule? She usuallly sleeps even while the tv is on and/or we are in the living room. Also, if we put her to bed at 8 each night, I will not see her often due to work schedule etc. Any suggestions you have Pedro are always welcome! Thanks again!
Joel

 

[jfish930]

Pedro,
Also when she tried to mate, I have removed her from my chest and put her on my shoulder--that seems to work--and then if she continues I put her back on her perch.
Also-my bird guy ( he is not a breeder, he is a very bird-knowledgeable pet store owner, store is called Pretty Birds) he told me for every egg she lays, to crush up 1/2 a Tums and sprinkle it on her food. He said that should replace her calcium. However, I did give her some hard boiled egg with the shell this morning.
Our bird, according to other Eclectus lovers-is the picture of health. Her feathers are full and beautiful, no plucking ever, her weight is perfect, and she can be very cute, funny and affectionate. I just want to make sure I am doing the right things for her. Thanks again!
Joel

 

[Pedro]

Joel, i give my eccies calcium in the form of a calcium bell or cuttlefish bone. I find they will only eat it when they are laying & when the chicks first hatch. Also if your girl eats pellets there is no need to give her extra calcium other than the boiled egg & i only do that once a week.

You are doing all the right things with your girl. I can tell she is in good health just by how you talk about her. Don't worry to much about her laying eggs it's all part of her natural process. You are so very lucky she isn't aggressive. A lot of hens are when they mature & lay. I am guessing that this mating behavior has only started in the last month or so. If you take notice next time when she starts doing the same behavior address the situation then & be a bit more strict until the behavior passes. I am not sure it will work but worth a try all the same. I have a pet male eccie & he gets a bit hormonal at times & as soon as he gets that look in his eye I don't encourage him. I have also got a GF for him, not that they are compatible it just takes his attention from me & i don't feel so guilty having him on his own.

I live in a tropical climate one of the reasons my birds breed all year. That & because they are fed to well. LOL.

Do you cover her cage with a blanket? Maybe you could cover the cage just a little earlier. Other than that just make sure she doesn't have access to anywhere dark & cosey so she gets nesty. You could also try a natural cat litter to use on her play stand instead of the newspaper. But make sure it is safe to use. I use a rice based cat litter in my baby boxes.

 

[jfish930]

Hey Pedro
thanks again for your help and responses! I am definitely going to get her a cuttlebone--thanks! As for covering her cage--I have only done that for 3 to 5 minutes at a time if she has become extremely loud--which is rare-- all I have to do is cover her cage one time for 3 to 5 minutes and she is quiet for a long time after that. I will definitely look into a safe litter for her play top--great idea! I think I will remove all the nesty paper after she is done with this egg and see what happens--and also when she tries to get matey with me i will put her down. If she continues to lay, then maybe I will have to start covering her cage at night too. Thanks again for all of your help! Do you mind me asking what tropical area you live in? I know that here in Pennsylvania it has been in the low 20 degrees (fahrenheit) but we keep our heat at about 72 F. I thought that she might just try to lay once a year around this time, but now I am finding I could be wrong. We shall see! Thanks again
Joel

 

[Rubytheeccie]

Such INteresting reading and advice. Thank you for starting this thread.
I have a 2 1/2 yo female Solomon Island Eclectus called Ruby. She is very bonded with me and does her wing flutter with me which I have always ignored. She is a very cuddly bird and loves my attention.
Well she has just laid her first egg, which to be honest was exciting, but now stressful. I have been able to coax her out of her cage and all she wanted to do was snuggle In to my neck. The egg will be a nothing egg as she doesn't have a male partner. I will be keeping a close eye on her making sure she is eating and drinking.

I'm a bit confused. Should I take her egg and play box out of her cage?? I would have thought this would have depressed her and stressed her out. Or should I leave it there for her for a bit. and if so how long??
I read about reducing her fresh food? If I was to do this what should I replace it with. Any suggestions on added calcium, she has never been Interested in cuttlefish. Would egg and shell once a week or how often be enough?? All the help and advice here would be so much appreciated as I would be devastated if my precious girl got sick and died because she is now laying eggs and I'm not doing the right thing by her ��

 

[labell]

You can decrease the amount of warm mushy foods but do not decrease her fresh foods. She still needs the same fresh foods to stay healthy. You can give her things like egg cooked with the shell smashed up in it as well as kale this will help replace her calcium. Egg with the shell about once a week while she is in breeding mode.

Get some water boiling and drop her egg into the water for a minute or so this will let it keep longer, once it is cool to the touch place it back with her so she doesn't continue to lay more eggs though there will more than likely be at least one more laid. After 28 days or so she will know it isn't fertile and abandon it. What you really don't want to do is remove them completely without either replacing it with a fake one or boiling hers because she will keep laying to replace them.

You do want to make sure she is getting enough to eat. Keep in mind in the wild while a female is brooding the males keep her very well fed so make sure she is eating enough on her own. Bring the food dish to her if need be. Plenty of single pet females live happily even through egg laying just keep on eye on Ruby for any signs of trouble such as losing weight or signs of being egg bound. Keep us posted.

 

[Rubytheeccie]

You can decrease the amount of warm mushy foods but do not decrease her fresh foods. She still needs the same fresh foods to stay healthy. You can give her things like egg cooked with the shell smashed up in it as well as kale this will help replace her calcium. Egg with the shell about once a week while she is in breeding mode.

Get some water boiling and drop her egg into the water for a minute or so this will let it keep longer, once it is cool to the touch place it back with her so she doesn't continue to lay more eggs though there will more than likely be at least one more laid. After 28 days or so she will know it isn't fertile and abandon it. What you really don't want to do is remove them completely without either replacing it with a fake one or boiling hers because she will keep laying to replace them.

You do want to make sure she is getting enough to eat. Keep in mind in the wild while a female is brooding the males keep her very well fed so make sure she is eating enough on her own. Bring the food dish to her if need be. Plenty of single pet females live happily even through egg laying just keep on eye on Ruby for any signs of trouble such as losing weight or signs of being egg bound. Keep us posted.

Thank you so much. I actually went to the animal expo here in Adelaide last weekend and personally met Dr Harry, Dr Harry is a famous vetinerian surgeon here in Australia, he is getting on a bit now but still full of knowledge. As I was getting so many different messages from people in the know, I ended up being stressed and confused. However Dr Harry told me it was very normal for her to do this, to add calcium to her diet and if she continued to NOT eat remove her eggs and her play box which she turned into her nesting box.

Well I have removed her eggs, removed her play box, in which she handled very well considering. She still wasn't eating which stressed me more. Coz I have a 5 month old yellow sided conure that was born with out a top beak, she gets hand rearing food morning and night (it's so cute she uses her bottom beak as a spoon, she is such a clever girl). I decided to syringe feed Ruby this food for a few days because she kept trying to get me to feed her and I couldnt watch her not eat any longer. I only did it for three days and then stopped. Well it must have worked coz now she is eating and drinking again and gaining back the weight she lost

I tell you, scared the living **** out of me, thought I was going to lose my gorgeous Ruby. She is starting to be her old self again, even tho she still makes some weird mothering noises. The most important thing is she is eating, drinking and screaming, never thought i would say I was happy to hear her scream, but this tells me she is back to her old self. Now to come up with different ways to keep her busy and occupied rather than a toy box which she can easily turn into a nesting box again

Happy mummy that her Ruby girl is back xxx

 

[labell]

I am very glad that Ruby is eating and back to her normal self!