So your parrot has laid an egg, now what do you do?
If yours is a single female parrot, and there is no chance that this is a viable egg, let her keep it (or them) for a few days. She may choose to incubate and turn it, like a doting mom, and might lose her interest after a while, and if she doesn’t, take it away from her in her absence. Removing the egg immediately will only serve to cause her to lay more to replace it instinctually, which can lead to health problems. Some choose to remove the eggs right away and replace them with similar sized pebbles or plastic eggs. . Strangely, they often don’t seem to notice and continue to incubate them.
The shell of an egg is made primarily of calcium that comes directly from calcium stores in the female’s body. Their bones and muscles provide almost all of the calcium needed to produce the shell. Excessive or chronic egg laying can profoundly deplete the body’s calcium (hypocalcemia) causing improper body function. Hypocalcemia can lead to egg binding, where the uterine muscles do not expel the egg . It can also cause seizures and brittle, easily fractured bones.
Egg binding can be the result of a number of things including obesity, large or poorly formed eggs, bad diet, even bad genes, and it requires immediate vet attention. This is not uncommon with cockatiels, lovebirds and budgies. Signs of egg binding might be lethargy, sitting at the bottom of the cage, large or excessive droppings or none at all, straining, standing/perching with the legs further apart than is normal or a swollen vent area. Often the vet can “coax” the bird along with the aid of warmth, a lubricant, and the injection of fluids, calcium, antibiotic and steroids. Sometimes the egg can be palpated out (only by your vet), being very careful not to break the shell. Sometimes, depending on the location of the egg, a needle is used to extract the contents of the egg, and the shell is crushed so it can be passed. If the egg breaks, or breaks down inside the abdomen, it can lead to a serious inflammation called egg yolk peritonitis, which is life threatening. These are all very good reasons NOT to let your parrot overproduce eggs.
