Ask Lafeber

Feeding eggs

What about feeding eggs?

Hi Glenna,

The main reason to feed eggs to a bird is if you are getting ready to set up a pair for breeding. Eggs with the shell washed, crushed and cooked with the eggs, are a good source of calcium and protein for the hen especially. They can be fed daily leading up to breeding, during egg laying and incubation, and until the chicks are weaned if the parents are feeding the chicks. There are also commercial egg foods made for this purpose. As far as for a pet, eggs can be fed as an occasional treat as long as the eggs are fully cooked. I would avoid offering eggs to a non-breeding female, because they are a potential hormone trigger. In fact breeding birds that are not being fed a good diet will often eat their own eggs. As Dr Lamb discussed, foods like meat and eggs should be fed in small amounts, only occasionally due to concerns about cholesterol and heart disease. So a daily serving of eggs from your breakfast plate is not a good idea, but as a once or twice a week treat it is OK as long as the overall diet is balanced.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda