Ask Lafeber

umbrella cockatoo Egg laying

Hi I have a 29 year old umbrella cockatoo. At what age will she stop laying eggs?

Hi,

There isn’t any data on how long any parrot species can lay eggs, because they have such a long life span. With Cockatoos, it’s not unusual for a hen to lay her first egg in her 20’s or later. If your bird only lays once a year, then that isn’t a big concern. It is an unnecessary strain on her system, and laying eggs comes with a certain level of risk regardless of how healthy the bird is. Ideally you can minimize hormone triggers and try to avoid the egg laying entirely. If she lays at the same time every year, you can anticipate this and discuss hormone therapy with your Vet. When a single hen is a known egg layer, the Vet may recommend the hormone implant just before the egg laying usually starts, or possibly hormone injections. Hormone therapy is low risk, but it can be expensive.

Birds usually change their activity when they are getting ready to nest, so when you notice this behavior, you can make some changes to discourage her. Things you can try at home are limiting her light to 8-10 hours a day – unproven but some owners report this can be effective, and it won’t hurt. Try not to keep your house too warm – a lot of birds start laying eggs in the winter because of heating systems that blow warm air and heat the home, often warmer than when the AC is running in the hotter months. Don’t allow her to roam freely in the home – this mimics hunting for a nesting area. Don’t use a sleep cage – this can be like having a cozy nest. If it is necessary for your bird to sleep in another room, have a smaller cage, but don’t use a cover and never have the cage in a confined area, which again can make her feel like she has a nice nest cavity. When you handle her, limit any petting to only her head and neck and avoid cuddling or long periods of petting her. Letting her get too relaxed while you pet her head can be just as stimulating as petting her body. Instead come up with activities such as foraging for food and treats or playing with toys. Limit fresh foods when she seems to be getting broody or nesty – abundant food is a hormone trigger because she feels like she can have enough to feed chicks. Take fresh foods away for a couple of weeks, then only offer very small amounts a few days a week. With her regular diet, limit how much you give at a time and try not to give her excess. Don’t give her things to shred, no boxes, don’t let her roost or nest on the cage bottom or anywhere in the house. Don’t let her get in your lap, or under couch cushions or play on your bed under the covers. All of these encourage nesting and egg laying. We do have an entire playlist of webinars that cover parrot and hormonal issues, so I will give you that link.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda