Ask Lafeber

eggs

Our cockatiel has been carrying an egg for months and wont drop. What do we do??

Hi Tom,

I don’t quite understand what you mean. If this is an egg she laid and is carry it around in her beak, take it away from her. If there is some reason you think she needs to lay an egg, this is not what is going on if it has been months. An egg is formed inside the bird in a couple of days and then the bird lays it. If the bird can’t lay the egg for some reason, the bird will die within a few hours without Veterinary help. There is no way a bird would have an unlaid egg inside of her except for a very rare condition which would require Vet care and surgery. If something indicates she has swelling or something abnormal, take her to an Avian Vet to be checked out.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda