Single Female Laying Eggs

Hello. I read the TOS and I hope this is alright to post being new and all. (Some forums scream at you about starting new threads but I don't see one like this in here yet).

I have a 3 year old single female cockatiel and she laid an egg about three days ago at the bottom of her cage. She's not sitting on it, just sitting next to it I guess watching it. She almost looked as if she would lay another one but she hasn't yet. I gave her plenty of food and put vitamins in her water because I read that laying eggs takes a lot out of her system. Plus, I have to go pick up some calcium drops from the vet tonight.

Does she need a nest of some sort? I thought putting a nesting box in would encourage her to lay more, so I didn't put one in. Someone also told me to keep her warm. Is there anything else I should do to keep her comfy during all this? I'm very worried about egg-bind.

Any help is much appreciated. Thank you.

Hi and welcome! Egg laying as you probably already know is very common in cockatiels. You are correct in that she need more nutrition and calcium during this time. The biggest defence against egg binding for ANY female bird is nutrition and exercise. Weak muscles from lack of flight put a female bird at a higher risk for egg binding. If she is not sitting on them, or if she is, just leave them there until she gives up on them. This will help her end her cycle. If you remove the eggs too soon, you will trigger her to replace the lost egg/eggs and the clyce will continue. If she only lays one egg that's ok, most egg laying is spaced out as it takes time for the body to develop a new egg and than pass it. So it is typicaly one to two days in between eggs, a full clutch for a tiel I believe is about 4 egg, although they can and do lay more. If she continues to lays eggs past a normal clutch, than you need to do things like decrease the amount of day light, decrease the intake of fruits and veggies, and bathes if she gets these things. Cockatiel are photosensitive, light triggers breeding, this is why decreasing the light helps. Also it takes vitamin D3 to synthesize calicum, so make sure she gets some scrambled egg. I'm not a fan of vitamins in the water, because it cause bacteria to grow in the water. But if you need to use them make sure to scrub out that water dish at least once a day, if not twice.

Ah, thank you Kimba! I have started her on the calcium drops and reduced her sunlight exposure. She did in fact lay another egg last night but she started eating it today. I agree that the vitamins in the water is not good and I normally don't give her them. I do however clean her water out every night because it gets a slimey film in the dish if I don't. She's still sitting at the bottom of her cage just watching over the egg, the one she's not eating lol. She's still friendly and even lets me pet her still. Not sure how many more she'll lay but I'm keeping a close watch on her.

Thank you again for all the advice. I'll keep you posted. ^_^

If she is eating the egg than her body is already depleted of nutrients. A bird will always eat it own egg for nutrition if it has to. Will she eat scrambled eggs? If so make some but leave the shell in for the calcium.

She started eating the egg around the same time I started giving her the calcium drops; she has stopped since. I was able to get through to the aviary I bought her from and they told me to make sure she isn't in any drafts as this will increase her chances of eggbind.

She will not eat eggs or any kind of vegetable, I have tried for years. Most of her nutrients come from a special mix diet the vet told me to give her that I have them make for her at the Bird Aviary. Contains dried veges and fruits, nutz, seed, ect. She picks at it but to be honest most of it ends up on the bottom of her cage every night.

My vet also has a small packet of info I have to pick up tomorrow (walked out and forgot it when I picked up the calcium drops *facepalm*)concerning an egg laying hen, so that will help a lot.

Thanks again.