Ask Lafeber

Eggs

I have a 47 year old yellow crested cockatoo, and there is no veteran close to where I live, I myself are 72 years old , I’m concerned, she has never been to a vet. And every year she lays 2 or 3 eggs, she sits on them, never breaks or eats them and when she loses interest in them, I take them away from her and so far it’s worked, but the more I read, the more I feel I’m doing wrong. I love my bird and don’t want to hurt her. And not having a vet close to me, is really a worry. How should I deal with this, should I really try to drive to a vet, it’s about 250 miles away, I’m afraid that the trip in the truck would be worse for her. 500 miles round trip. She hates traveling,

Hi Melody,

Laying eggs once a year is not a concern. The problem with egg laying is when it becomes chronic where the bird is laying eggs frequently. She seems to be doing a normal cycle and it is satisfying her. By letting her keep the eggs, she is completing the cycle physically and emotionally. If you took the eggs away, she would probably lay more and keep doing this until she was allowed to keep her eggs. And when this happens, sometimes it causes a hormonal issue and they just won’t stop laying eggs. I generally would give advice such as not petting her anywhere but the head, reducing fresh foods, nothing to shred, make her have longer nights. But at her age, as long as the egg laying is limited to once a year, I would suggest leaving things as they are. If she starts laying more frequently, then you would need to make some behavior, diet and environmental changes.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda